Climate change and the future of South Africa's wine industry
International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
ISSN: 1756-8692
Article publication date: 2 November 2012
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to attempt to synthesise the lessons from at least four different ways of looking at the South Africa wine industry: economics, climatology, viticulture, and the sociology of work.
Design/methodology/approach
The economic performance of South Africa's wine industry since democratisation in the early 1990s is reviewed, as is the effect of climate change on the industry. This is followed by an assessment of possible strategies for building international competitiveness whilst simultaneously coping with the effects of climate change.
Findings
While industry systems should allow the marketing of speciality wines (e.g. from a single vineyard, from a single estate), this is not a viable strategy for most wine producers. Furthermore, climate change will lead to volatility in the characteristics that identify different terroirs.
Practical implications
Industry strategies should rather focus on the benefits of diversity, but with a range of adaptations that will also result in better quality wines. These encompass quality; geographic location; viticultural practices; the style of wines and the renewal of skills. In synthesising this argument, the authors then consider whether such a strategy could enhance or hinder greater international competitiveness for the industry.
Originality/value
The results can be taken into consideration by policy makers and industry stakeholders in designing future strategies.
Keywords
Citation
Vink, N., Deloire, A., Bonnardot, V. and Ewert, J. (2012), "Climate change and the future of South Africa's wine industry", International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 4 No. 4, pp. 420-441. https://doi.org/10.1108/17568691211277746
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited