Wines of South Africa Inaugural Grand Tasting 2017 Maputo, Mozambique

Wines of South Africa held an inaugural Grand Wine Tasting 2017 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Maputo, Mozambique on the evening of Friday 24th November 2017, where 9 producers showcased over 40 different wine brands which were well received by the 400 attending guests, comprising of trade, media and consumers. 

The show was preceded by a Introductory ‘Tweet-up’ South African Wines course on the mornings of the 23rd and 24th of November to a total of 100 invited trade and media attendees, who were all awarded certificates of achievement. This is part of WOSA’s strategy to grow the international trade and media wine knowledge base and create ambassadors for South African wines in Mozambique.

In the evening at the wine show guests were treated to canapés and wines poured while being entertained with soft contemporary jazz and cool Mozambican sounds. The event was graced with presence of the South African High Commissioner to Mozambique, H.E Mandisi Mpahlwa, who welcomed guests and encouraged them to visit and tour the Cape winelands and experience the beauty of South Africa.
 
Wines of South Africa strategically collaborated with the South African High Commission in Mozambique and South African Airways and presented a collective Brand South Africa positioning. Specific objectives included leveraging each entity’s existing brand visibility in the Mozambican market as well as to support the growth of the South African business footprint and commitment to doing business in the Mozambican market.

Brands presented at the show were from Vinimark (Robertson Wines, Chocolate Block, Porcupine Ridge, Fat Bastard, Krone) Overhex Wines, Accolade Wines, Man Vintners Wines, DGB Wines, Diemersfontein Wines, Ken Forrester Wines, Slent Wines and Stellenbosch Vineyards

Mozambique is growing to be a strong brand building market, presenting plenty of opportunity for South African wine brand owners to position their brand to consumers who are looking for a premium offering. This also means producers should create promotional strategies in support of their importers. South Africa has a strong position in the informal channel and formal off-trade, and is recognized as good value for money.

There is an opportunity for South African brands to compete harder against the Portuguese in the on-trade. Producers should also take advantage that South Africa is a SADC member country and can apply for SADC certificate in order to qualify for a 20% duty waiver for exports to Mozambique as a SADC member country.
 

Presentation of Tweetup Introductory Wine Course and handing over of certificates of achievement to attending trade & media

Evening Wine Show

- Matome Mbatha