The South African wine industry is rolling out the red carpet for its official birthday with the launch of the “Happy birthday SA wine” campaign, celebrating 366 years of winemaking heritage.
Running from January through February, this initiative invites wine enthusiasts, producers, retailers, and stakeholders worldwide to toast the country’s rich viticultural history and ongoing contributions to the global wine landscape.
According to Rico Basson, CEO of South Africa Wine, South Africa is the only wine-producing nation that can pinpoint the exact date its wine journey began: 2 February 1659. This remarkable milestone marks the beginning of an industry that has become a symbol of South African pride.
“Our vision is to create an annual celebration that honours this heritage and promotes the spirit of South African wine. We want to raise awareness both local and global about the contributions of South African wine to the world and to encourage a sense of pride and connection within the industry and among consumers,” Basson said.
Related stories
- Wine industry up in arms over proposed excise tax hike
- SAWIPB’s global partnerships elevate SA’s wine talent
- Meet trailblazers of Mzansi’s black-owned wine industry at WineX
The campaign is a rallying call for the wine community to come together, using the “Happy birthday SA wine” marketing assets to spread the message far and wide.
“We call upon the entire wine industry, tourism sector, local and international partners, and wine enthusiasts to join us in this celebration. Together, let’s raise a glass to South African wine’s past, present, and future,” Basson said.
According to Wanda August, communications and brand manager, wine lovers can participate by downloading free campaign materials via the toolkit and engaging on social media using the hashtags #SAWineSince1659 and #HappyBirthdaySAWine.
For further information, visit South Africa Wine’s official channels.
READ NEXT: Water shortages and ageing dip tanks threaten Zim livestock
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
