Viticulture in Africa is interesting as certain weather and soil conditions are necessary to be put in place to ensure a profitable harvest.
Wine tourism implies the discovery of wine as the aim of travel. This may sound irrational to many but wine enthusiasts would beg to differ. This genre of tourism is spreading rapidly worldwide and is particularly important for Africa’s second largest economy – South Africa.
The International Wine Review ranks South Africa’s wine tourism as one of the best developed in the world which is an incredible feat. With its fifty-four countries, Africa definitely has a great potential for developing wine tourism alongside the other genres of tourism. Africa may be known for its majestic heritage sites, scenic beaches but a rise in wine tourism would add wine to that list! Jovago highlights this interesting side of tourism for all to see.
Viticulture in Africa is interesting as certain weather and soil conditions are necessary to be put in place to ensure a profitable harvest. South Africa’s viticulture dates back to the colonial times and is deeply entrenched in their history, this explains the progress made in terms of the quality of their wine and wine tourism. However, it should be noted that coastal influences of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean play a key role in the strategic locations of wine regions. For South Africa, their wine regions are nourished with intense sunlight.
Africa has 38 coastal countries with great potential for wine development and tourism as the conditions necessary for viticulture could be made available with consistency in research and an investment in agriculture. This potential cannot be undermined as this could also become a source of employment for African youth as well as a means to reduce brain-drain in Africa as a need for researchers and intellectuals would arise in order to create the necessary conditions for winemaking. Of course the wine would vary in taste and complexity according to region and that would further add to the essence of a potential growth in African wine tourism.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
