South Africa the seventh biggest wine producer in the world – 2015 industry stats

ACCORDING to 2015 statistics announced by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) based in Paris, France, South Africa now ranks 7th among the biggest wine-producing countries in the world: 1 France (16.7%), 2 Italy (16%), 3 Spain (14.9%), 4 USA (8%), 5 Argentina (5.4%), 6 Australia (4.3%), 7 South Africa (4.1%), 8 China (4%), 9 Chile (3.8%). Spain has the most vineyard plantings (1 million hectares) for the purpose of making wine, followed by France and Italy – China ranks second in terms of area under vine but much of it is not with a view to wine production.

Statistics published in June 2015 by SA Wine Industry Information & Systems (SAWIS) based in Paarl include the following:

Production and sales…

Annual wine production: 959 million litres
Annual sales, domestic: 395 million litres
Annual sales, export: 423 million litres

Industry structure…

Farms where grapes are grown for making wine: 3314
Total number of wineries: 559
Wholesalers: 109, i.e. 25 producing wholesalers, 84 bulk wine buyers
Co-operative wineries: 49
Independent wineries: 485
Farms registered for ‘Estate Wine’ production: 203

Vineyards and cellars…

Total area under vine, wine grapes: 99 463 hectares (295 million vines)
Stellenbosch: 16 037 hectares (172 wineries)
Paarl: 15 835 hectares (126 wineries)
Robertson: 14 652 hectares (63 wineries)
Swartland: 13 591 hectares (31 wineries)
Breedekloof: 13 022 hectares (28 wineries)
Olifants River: 10 149 hectares (15 wineries)
Worcester: 8 858 hectares (57 wineries)
Northern Cape: 4 659 hectares (13 wineries)
Klein Karoo: 2 660 hectares (29 wineries)

White grapes…

Total white grape vineyards: 54.6%
Chenin Blanc: 18%
Colombar(d): 12%
Sauvignon Blanc: 9.3%
Chardonnay: 7.4%
Muscat d’Alexandrie: 2%
Semillon: 1.2%
Viognier: 0.9%
Muscat de Frontignan: 0.8%

Red grapes…

Total red grape vineyards: 45.4%
Cabernet Sauvignon: 11.5%
Shiraz: 10.5%
Pinotage: 7.4%
Merlot: 6.1%
Ruby Cabernet: 2.4%
Cinsaut: 1.9%
Pinot Noir: 1.1%
Cabernet Franc: 0.9%

Exports over 12 months…

Exported to United Kingdom: 109 million litres (68 million in bulk)
Exported to Germany: 79 million litres (62 million in bulk)
Exported to Russia: 28 million litres (25 million in bulk)
Exported to Sweden: 25 million litres (6 million in bulk)
Exported to France: 25 million litres (24 million in bulk)
Exported to Netherlands: 22 million litres (6 million in bulk)
Exported to Denmark: 20 million litres (11 million in bulk)
Exported to Canada: 18 million litres (10 million in bulk)
Exported to USA: 11 million litres (2 million in bulk)
Exported to Belgium: 9 million litres (4 million in bulk)
Exported to China: 9 million litres (2 million in bulk)
Exported to Japan: 6 million litres (3 million in bulk)
Exported to Switzerland: 6 million litres (5 million in bulk)

Imports over 12 months…

Imported natural wine: 517 953 litres
Imported fortified wine: 6 953 litres
Imported sparkling wine: 408 385 litres

 

For the Latest SA Wine Industry Statistics, Click Here.

 

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