Explore South Africa
Inspired by - South Africa
5 events that shaped the South African Wine industry
Posted by rod - 29.04.2011
1652 : In the 1600’s the spice trade flourished and Europeans sailed across Africa to the East to find the most exotic of spices. The journey was long and hard so the Dutch decided to create something like a halfway stop that would allow sailors to stock up on food and wine. Today this stop is known as Cape Town.
1685 : Constantia was used to produce wine, fruit, vegetables and cattle for the sailors on their journey to the East. Huge vineyards were planted and today it is known for its production of high-qualityred wines like Shiraz & Merlot.
1689 : The wine industry in South Africa was greatly influenced by the French Huguenots, many of whom had vineyards in France before arriving in South Africa. These settlers were allocated farms in Franschhoek, Afrikaans for ‘French corner’.
1859 : In the late 1700′s wines from Constantia earned a great reputation across Europe. The area soon fell under British rule and large quantities of wine were exported to Britain. This was great for the industry, but in 1860 a free trade agreement was signed between France and Britain that lead to an increase in exports from France and limited exports from South Africa.
This project was created by Greek designer Dimitra Tzanos, you might know her Moroccan Night or London Landmarks illustrations. The five events that shaped the South African Wine industrywas used as part of a Wine literature for the Athens based African-inspired restaurant Kozi’s.
Finished here? Then have a look at these.
1 Comment (add yours?)
Creative?… yes.
Factual?…… where on earth did Dimitra find her “facts” about the “large group of Huguenots, many of whom had vineyards in France “……….