Facts and Figures

Over the past decade, the South African wine industry has grown substantially. In 1986 there were 160 cellars in operation and today there are about 100 new cellars - some small and some with large investment backing.

• South Africa is the 8th largest wine producer in the world
• Viticulture encompasses 258,312 acres of South Africa
• South Africa contains 1.3% of the world’s vineyards and ranks 20th in terms of area under vine
• Ten million cases were exported in 1996, an increase of 1,170% in five years
• Exports comprise 65% of total sales
• South Africa ranks 29th in consumption: 1.98 gallons per capita
• Total income for wine producers in 1996: $238 million
• 1996 total crop was 1,014 million tons of grapes, producing some 1,014 billion litres
• The South African wine industry sustains 300,000 people and contributes 30% to the total income from horticulture in the Western Cape
• 4,634 grape growers produce 85% of the crop
• South African has 78 estate and 105 private wineries
• Four wholesaling producers for a total of 242 cellars pressing grapes