Vinpro webinars to focus on post covid-19
According to Stats SA, the wine sector contributed around R36 billion to South Africa’s GDP, employing more than 290 000 people in all the wine value chain.
The loss of this market share during the lockdowns affected more than 80 wine cellars and 430 wine grape producers said Vinpro earlier in the year.
Vinpro, an NGO that represents about 2 500 South African wine grape producers, cellars and wine-related businesses, had estimated that during the lockdown, the wine industry lost close to R2 billion in revenue.
In managing the industry’s recovery, Vinpro had taken proactive steps by calling all its members to sign up for an online series of vineyard technical webinars. The series are expected to start between 3 September and 8 October 2020 at a cost R150 per person.
“We encourage all wine grape producers, winemakers, viticulturists, suppliers to the wine industry and other interested parties to equip themselves with the important information shared at the regional days,” says Conrad Schutte, manager of Vinpro’s viticultural consultation service.
South African wines were considered among the 10th largest wine producers globally, accounting for 4% of the world’s wine consumed and by default boasting the local tourism sector with its wine garden scenery routes.
Vinpro’s Lucinda Heyns, responsible for viticultural knowledge said it was important for Winetech to not only fund relevant research that benefits the industry,” but also the regional sessions as an important platform to communicate research results to the industry.”
According to the Vinpro schedule, webinars will take this format;
- Olifants Riverwebinar on September 3. Focus will look at maintenance fertilization in vineyards through the use of soil and leaf samples, as well as the management of powdery and downy mildew throughout the season, including the use of Mancozeb.
- Stellenbosch and the Cape South Coast webinar on 9 September. It will focus on discovering alternative cultivars from different perspectives.
- Robertson and Klein Karoowebinar on 16 September. It will provide an overview of new technology and implements, as well as a future look at stock levels and wine prices.
- Paarl and Swartland webinar on 23 September. Forecasting of the way forward for the South African wine industry, including the impact of the pandemic on stock levels and wine prices.
- Worcester and Breedekloof, webinar on 8 October, details to be announced.
To attend, members were required to book online by clicking on each regional day’s link above, go to https://sales.vinpro.co.za/events/ or contact Gaynor Fortuin at tel 021 276 0432, email gaynor@vinpro.co.za.
