South Africa Wine Summit - Wine Leaders Chart Industry's Future Course
The second South Africa Wine Summit, set for May 22, 2025, at the Conservatory in Stellenbosch, will again gather together wine industry decision-makers and experts to address the sector’s vital challenges and opportunities.
Leading the future of South African wine requires more than responding to change – it demands that we actively shape it. The South Africa Wine Summit recognises that global consumers increasingly seek authentic, purpose-driven brands that deliver more than quality wine. They want to connect with the stories behind the bottle, understand the commitment to sustainability, and see tangible social impact in communities. The South African wine industry can change heritage into a compelling narrative that resonates in the global marketplace.
This year’s Summit will explore how we can harness authentic storytelling to build wine brands that matter while ensuring the industry’s growth benefits everyone in our value chain.
“The South African wine industry stands at a decisive moment. Our ability to grow and compete globally depends on how we address climate resilience, embrace technology in viticulture, connect with new consumers, and implement sustainable practices across our value chain,” says Rico Basson, South Africa Wine’s CEO. “These aren’t isolated challenges – they’re interconnected opportunities that require collective industry action. The South Africa Wine Summit brings together the expertise and insights our industry needs to navigate these fundamental shifts. Every decision we make today about climate adaptation, technological integration, and market engagement will determine our industry’s trajectory for the next decade. Our summit offers the strategic framework for those decisions.”
This event promises practical solutions to pressing challenges from agricultural policy to artificial intelligence, AI and precision technology in vineyard management and winemaking to data-driven insights on global market shifts.
“Continuing our decades-long relationships within the wine industry, Nedbank is honoured to sponsor this year’s South Africa Wine Summit,” says Daneel Rossouw, Nedbank’s Head of Sales for agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking and main sponsor of this event. “This year’s focus on building the profile of South African wines’ authenticity and commitment to sustainability and tangible social impact aligns perfectly with Nedbank’s own journey as a purpose-led organisation.
“While we recognise that as a bank, we have an obligation and responsibility to use our lending to drive change, we also believe that our role goes beyond simply financing the transition. So, we partner with leading organisations like South Africa Wine to enable experts to share their knowledge and raise awareness of and drive the sector towards sustainable agricultural practices that positively impact people, planet and profit.”
The South Africa Wine Summit is made possible through the committed partnership of organisations that champion agricultural innovation and industry growth. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture continues its legacy of supporting initiatives that strengthen the region’s agricultural backbone. Ardagh Glass Packaging-Africa (formerly Consol Glass) will contribute its global expertise in sustainable and innovative glass packaging solutions to the conversation. Agrimark, with its deep roots in agricultural services and retail, reinforces the summit’s focus on building resilient agricultural value chains. Together with our main sponsor, Nedbank, these sponsors share South Africa Wine’s vision of an industry that leads through innovation while honouring its heritage.
Join us in Stellenbosch this year for our highly anticipated annual Summit. Our industry is about more than just selling more wine; it’s about securing its place in a rapidly evolving global market where purpose and profit must coexist. Please see our exciting programme here.
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WINE LEADERS CHART INDUSTRY’S FUTURE COURSE - South Africa Wine
