The easing of the latest alcohol ban to beat the spread of Coronavirus coincided to the day with the South African wine industry’s 362nd anniversary. 

We know the exact date on which the local wine industry began, says Drinksfeed.com, thanks to the 2 February 1659 diary entry of Jan van Riebeeck, an official of the Dutch East India Company and First Commander of the Cape:

Jan van Riebeeck was the first governor of the Cape. He planted a vineyard in 1655, and on 2 February 1659, the first wine was made from Cape grapes. Vines were then planted on a larger scale at Roschheuvel; it is known today as Bishopscourt, Wynberg. Van Riebeeck encouraged farmers to plant vineyards, although it is reported that at first they were very reluctant.

Following this uncertain start, the South African wine industry grew and flourished, to become the second biggest contributor to agricultural exports after citrus, employing 290,000 people.

Then the Coronavirus lockdown happened in 2020, and with it the ban on both domestic wine sales and exports. 

Wine tourism is a major income earner for the trade in South Africa, representing as much as half of all sales for many wine farms. Wineries were closed to visitors for nearly five months - they were then allowed to open but then again in the latest lockdown banned from selling wine both onsite as well as online.

The impact on the wine tourism sector has been massive. Until 2019, some 10 million tourists visited South Africa each year, most of them between December and March when Cape Winelands would receive an influx of northern hemisphere visitors escaping winter back home - a particularly hard one this year in many parts of Europe.

Until the pandemic, income from tourism accounted for more than 40 per cent of the turnover of South Africa’s boutique wineries, such as Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate.

"Wine businesses have not been able to earn any income from local wine sales for a total of 20 weeks since March 2020," Rico Basson said. He is head of Vin Pro, representing 2,500 producers and other stakeholders in the wine industry.

The sector has now lost more than eight billion Rand (440 million euros) in direct sales, threatening the livelihoods of 27,000 people, he said in a statement.

Sadly, it may be too late for some wine businesses in South Africa. However, many can survive and will benefit from the wine tourism ‘bounceback’ that some industry commentators have predicted, especially as northern hemisphere wine lovers - desperate for some winter sun, and many with savings boosted by having missed an overseas holiday for over a year - will return to the Winelands.

Penny Streeter OBE, owner of Benguela Cove says: “February 2nd was not the party that the industry wanted or deserved in this our 363rd year. But certainly, at Benguela Cove we are ready to welcome back our domestic visitors and those from overseas. Anyone looking for a memorable wine tour, with tastings and great food paired with superb vintages, you will be sure of a warm reception.

“We are using every opportunity to tell our story - because it’s a great story, and supported by what are probably the finest wines in the world, certainly the best value for the quality we offer. I would just ask everyone to support this wonderful industry, which is so much part of our shared heritage, and central to our economic future, especially in the Western Cape.”