Wine quality durch technik 30 October 2007

Government and wine industry leaders agree on scientific priorities

Combatting grapevine virus – at least partly through further scientific research – is vitally important to the future of South African wine, if it is to aspire to high quality production. A great many winemakers, viticulturists and knowledgeable winelovers and commentators would agree to this at least, even if they might have some doubts (possibly promoted by ignorance) about the claims involved in a statement that ‘Cutting-edge technology and continuous scientific innovation are essential in enabling South Africa to provide unique and quality wine products in the highly competitive global markets’.

While the industry’s marketing body puts emphasis on more natural factors (‘diversity is in our nature’) the stress on science was part of the announcement of an agreement between the SA Wine Industry Council (continuing to show an apparent new vitality since the advent of Kader Asmal as chairperson) and the national Department of Science and Technology.

A delegation from Sawic recently met with the Minister, Mosibudi Mangena. It was agreed that ‘the future of the South African wine industry depended on increased funding for research, as well [as] involving young black scientists in the industry, with Minister Mangena committing his Department to securing further funding for wine research which has to now mainly been sourced through producer levies.’.

The joint statement from the Minister and Kader Asmal indicated priority areas as ‘[s]upport to young black scientists participating in science development and research programmes in the wine industry, … grapevine virus research; wine terroir identification; technology transfer to end-users - with a particular focus on black participation; and the development of environmentally friendly technology and production systems’. There was also stress made on resisting environmental degradation and protecting indigenous flora through the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative.