South Africa has 3 years to gain premium image

"We have to do it in that time, or it will never happen," said South African Wine Cellars marketing manager Naas Erasmus. "If we don't, we will remain in the same category as Eastern Europe." Wine Cellar has invested 10 million over three years in making and marketing its wine. Next year premium wines from Durbanville winery, in the Durbanville region, north of Cape Town, will be picked "not just from single vineyard sites, but from spots within a vineyard," said Erasmus. The Single Vineyard range will be launched in September 2001, with a predicted price of 15 to 20. Durbanville Hills winemaker Martin Moore said that the country had been hindered by poor clones. "It's a problem," said Moore. "A lot of clones have been infected. I'd rather use old clones that have been cleaned, and developed in the country, than bring in new, possibly infected, ones." Moore is concentrating on producing red wines in spite of industry views that South Africa is more suited to whites. Last month managing director for KWV international Vernon Davis said that South Africa should stick to white wines. "I totally disagree," said Moore. "Our region is suited to growing red wines. We've all seen what has happened to Australia, and we want to emulate that."