NEWS     DECEMBER 2007

Whisky is the spectacular success story of the South African liquor industry. In fact, whisky may overtake brandy as the country's national spirit within the next five years. Whisky is closing the gap on brandy, growing in annual consumption of 22m litres (compared to 44,7m litres of brandy) over 2003/2004 to 31,6m litres in 2006/2007 (compared to 48,7m litres of brandy). The value of whisky sales in one month exceeded the value of brandy sales for the first time ever in 2007 - making South Africa the fifth biggest export market for Scotch whisky by volume. Graham Howe writes.

Make a note in your diaries, tie a knot in your handkerchief or set a reminder on your phone... Do whatever it takes but remember the VALUE WINE SHOW® which will take place at the Convention Centre from 6 – 8 February 2008.

The government has rejected an application from a South African-born scientist and his business partners to sell genetically modified yeast to local wine producers, saying it cannot risk jeopardising the industry's access to key European markets.

Nomacorc, producer of synthetic wine closures, announced that it has initiated a comprehensive, multi-year project with the UC Davis department of viticulture and enology, along with INRA Montpellier, France; and the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). The study will focus on how oxygen transfer through closures influences the evolution of wine after bottling.