TOPS Soweto Wine Festival  
 
 
 
 
 
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TOPS Soweto Wine Festival Shaping Future Wine Consumers

 
SOWETO, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA - 12 SEPTEMBER 2012 - The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, is officially the place to be on the first weekend of September every year and so say 8413 people who visited the festival and tasted over 900 wines this year.

Says Marilyn Cooper, co-founder of TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, a Cape Wine Master and CEO of the Cape Wine Academy “Even though we had a huge hail storm and heavy rains on Thursday afternoon we still had 1550 people come to the festival that evening but it would have been many more. On Friday and Saturday we were full to capacity on both nights with 3008 people on Friday and Saturday being slightly busier with 3855 people. To be honest, this festival is no longer about the numbers, it is about wine and people finding the wine they love. What you see at this festival are South Africa’s wine consumers of tomorrow and the future.”

“Wine consumption is on the increase but also in a responsible manner”, comments Mnikelo Mangciphu co-founder of the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, and owner of Soweto’s Morara Wine and Spirit Emporium, “and the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival plays a large part in growing this new market of responsible wine consumers, as they are concerned about the etiquette of wine drinking and the responsibility of not getting drunk at wine tastings and this has everything to do with wine education, which is one of the primary objectives of the festival.”

Traditional stereotypes about wine in South Africa are fading as a new generation of black wine connoisseurs and producers enters the wine scene. South Africa's wine industry is viewed as one of the most progressive and successful of many wine-producing countries. The industry's transformation efforts have been successful and new wine consumption trends point to new groups of emerging wine consumers.

According to the festival research done at the festival over the past 7 years, there appears to be three consumer groups emerging of growing influence that should be considered, to ensure long term industry viability.

Firstly, there are the infrequent wine consumers, which is a large pool of black consumers of all ages who like the taste of wine but drink it infrequently because they are intimidated by the idea of choosing and buying it or see wine as a drink for special occasions only (33%). This pool has been decreasing over the past 5 years.

Then there are the trendy wine consumers, a similarly large pool of young black consumers who are attracted to wine but want it to be fun to buy, to fit with their lifestyle and to meet their desire to always be seen with what’s new and trendy, and this pool has been increasing over the past 5 years (28%). And lastly the young black female consumer. An increasing number of women are drinking wine and making purchasing decisions - this pool has also increased over the past 5 years (20%).

The demand for convenience is also important to these markets. In South Africa, retailers like TOPS at SPAR, which have over 500 outlets, have a large selection of wines from boutique to well-known brands and services this market conveniently. Most the wines available to taste at the festival are available at TOPS at SPAR outlets.

Says Mark Robinson, TOPS Group Liquor Manager, “At TOPS at SPAR not only do we offer great value, convenience and an amazing range of fine wines and refreshments, but, because we are owner - managed, you can also experience personal service, coupled with good advice. We would like to thank all the new friends we made at the festival. It was a wonderful experience and we look forward to the next festival in Umlazi.”
 
 

Editor's Notes
Media & PR

Images: Viv Quann at [email protected] or 084 486 2136

Click here for #1 release - Mzansi’s Wine Chic Get Ready for TOPS Soweto Wine Festival 2012
Click here for #2 release - The Love of Wine Thrives in Soweto
Click here for #3 release - All the stars at TOPS Soweto Wine Festival
 
 

TOPS Soweto Wine Festival in association with Food Network
It Starts with a Conversation

The idea of having a wine festival in Soweto was borne around a braai in Pretoria in 2004 between neighbours Lyn Woodward (an original member) and Mnikelo Mangciphu (co-founding active member). The two were drinking wine out of Soweto Beer Festival glasses, and several glasses later, thought what a good idea it would be to have a wine festival in Soweto.

It was also the right time to start introducing South Africa’s quality wines to the remaining 80% of our population. Wine should be a way of life for all South Africans. Eight years later, the Soweto Wine Festival is the pride of Soweto and the wine event not to miss on the annual South African wine calendar.
 
 

Soweto Wine Festival Owners
Marilyn Cooper Dedicated and Committed

Co-founding member of the Soweto Wine Festival is Mnikelo Mangciphu who is the owner/manager of the only wine shop in Soweto - Morara Wine & Spirit Emporium, which he launched after the first Soweto Wine Festival in 2005.

The other co-founding member of the festival is Marilyn Cooper who is a Cape Wine Master and is also the CEO of the Cape Wine Academy based in Johannesburg.

Mnikelo Mangciphu, one of the festivals' founding members and owner of Soweto’s first wine specialist shop, Morara Wine Emporium, says that this festival is dedicated to encouraging, educating and growing black wine drinkers in Mzansi.
 

Soweto Wine Festival History
Timelines of Success

2005:
The inaugural festival was held over three days at Ubuntu Kraal in Orlando West, was attended by 1500 members of the public and was officially opened by the then Minister of Agriculture Thoka Didiza. 82 wineries came to that first festival, filled with great excitement; many had never been into a township before.

2006 soweto wine festival 2006:
The festival moved to the present premises University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus, which has proved to be a far more suitable and more accessible venue, with larger safe parking. Over 3000 people attended the Soweto Wine and Brandy Festival, and all had a great time.

2007 2007:
The festival showcased 94 different wineries with over 800 labels to entice the 4225 visitors that came through our doors. It was also the first year we invited big brand sponsors to participate in the festival.

2008 soweto wine festival 2008:
The festival grew to 105 exhibitors with over 850 wines to taste and 4365 visitors to taste them. The hall was packed to seams, to the point we had to stop selling tickets early. This year we included an ‘edutainment’ element to the festival called the Pick n Pay Wine Class.

2009 soweto wine festival 2009:
The festival featured 103 wineries exhibiting with over 800 wines and 5520 visitors attending. 2009 was so packed that doors closed 2 hours after opening. We have learnt our lesson - Sowetans LOVE South African Wine!

2010 soweto wine festival 2010:
In the year that South Africa hosted the Soccer World Cup, the Soweto Wine Festival welcomed a sell-out audience of over 7,500 visitors to the 3-night event. Despite increasing capacity with the addition of a Platinum Wine Arena, organisers closed doors early on Fridy and Saturday nights.

2011 soweto wine festival 2011:
The 2011 TOPS Soweto Wine Festival attracted a record 8550 people over the 3 evenings - which is 1002 more people than the previous year! This popular festival just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
 
2011 soweto wine festival 2012:
The festival featured over 900 wines and attracted an outstanding 8413 people over the 3 evenings. Despite heavy rains on the Thursday afternoon, the TOPS at SPAR Soweto Wine Festival attracted 1550 visitors on the Thursday evening, and was full to capacity on Friday and Saturday.
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