SouthAfricanWine

South African Wine Outsells French in the UK Market

Filed under: Wine

The latest Nielsen numbers show that South African wine sales have outpaced French wine in the UK for the first time ever, due to South African wine sales growing 20% while French wine sales dropped by 12%. South Africa is now ranked fourth for selling wine in the UK market.

South Africa has been producing wine for centuries but only in the last 15-20 years have exports really begun to grow. This news shows that UK (and world?) shoppers have made a significant shift and no longer 'default' to European brands. Jo Mason, UK market manager, Wines of South Africa, was quoted as saying "This is a momentous occasion for the South African wine industry."

And a bad one for the French.

South Africa is clearly excited and looks for their wine to experience even more success as tourists flock to their country for the FIFA World Cup this year.

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Tags: french wine, FrenchWine, south african wine, SouthAfricanWine, wine

Sauvignon Republic Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

We've seen California wineries that specialize in just Red Zinfandel, now let's take a look at a group of guys who focus only on Sauvignon Blanc. The Sauvignon Republic chose this particular grape because they say it expresses the "terroir" of its growing place. Their goal is to produce a wine in each of the areas that it grows best ( California, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and France). This month they are releasing their first South African Sauvignon. There are 800 cases of this wine, the third Sauvignon Blanc they have created. The 2005 Sauvignon Republic Cellars Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc sells for $18 and has citrus and tropical fruit notes with a hint of nettles. This month they are also releasing the 2005 Sauvignon Republic Cellars Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the 2005 Sauvignon Republic Cellars Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc which both also sell for $18.

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Tags: grapes, liquor, sauvignon blanc, south african wine, SouthAfricanWine, terroir, wine