A group of South Korean wine importers and distributors today tasted proudly South African wines from 10 wineries in the Western Cape region. This took place during the Virtual Wine Mission to South Korea by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) in collaboration with. Wesgro, is the Western Cape’s Destination Tourism, Investment and Trade Promotion Agency Wesgro).
The wineries presented their respective wines to an audience of 20 South Korean wine importers and distributors, who had an opportunity to taste the wines from these wineries, which were shipped to South Korea ahead of the mission.
In her introductory remarks, the Counsellor Economic at the South African Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Ms Seema Sardha, said the COVID pandemic had an untold impact on the South African economy; restricting traditional business engagements; and requiring everyone to embrace digital platforms. She said the virtual mission to South Korea was the first of its kind that South Africa had embarked upon and looked forward to replicating the format to other sectors with a view to intensifying commercial bilateral relations with South Korea.
In his welcoming remarks the the Acting Ambassador of South Africa to South Korea, Mr Gert Du Preez said the economic challenges triggered by the coronavirus affected the global order, with many countries grappling to contain its devastating impact. He called for South Africa to reinvent its trade promotion platforms from the conventional tools employed, to ensure that business continues uninterrupted.
The Chief Executive Officer of Wesgro, Mr Tim Harris said the domestic ban on alcohol, although recently lifted, has had a devastating impact on the South African liquor and wine industries, noting that it also forced a wide set of stakeholders to work together on driving exports, which was the only available sales channel for over a month.
“You have seen this effort, for example, in multiple social media campaigns, and promotions by foreign retailers offering on South African wine. To date, Wesgro together with our partners has hosted two virtual wine missions, this South Korean mission is unique in that it is the first mission where we have been able get wine couriered to the various tasting locations so that buyers can taste the wine, whilst being addressed by the wine producers. With 95% of wine farms being located in the Western Cape, we will continue our efforts and dedication to assisting South Africa’s wine producers,” said Harris.
Representatives from Bayede Royal Signature Wines & Spirits, De Goree Farming, Tesselaarsdal Wines, Compagniesdrift, M’hudi Wines, Cape Dreams Wines, Carmen Stevens Wines, Aslina Wines, Noble Hill Wine Estate and Glenelly Cellars engaged with the South Korean wine importers and distributors, with a view to creating inroads into the lucrative South Korean market.
An audience of South Korean wine importers and distributors, who had an opportunity to taste the wines from the South African companies.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade and Industry
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
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