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EDITORIAL
PHILIPPE GAILLARD - EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
WESTERN CAPE:
DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY
Despite South Africa’s long-standing history
of producing wine, it has successfully carved
out a place for itself in the modern era. The recent
CapeWine exhibition is the wine industry’s perfect
illustration of this. For 2022, the decision was made
to present all the projects, programmes and activities
that contribute to sustainability within the industry,
under the banner ‘Sustainability 360’. The primary
focus has been placed on three pillars – ‘People, Place
and Prosperity’ – each one of them playing a vital role
in ensuring a better future for South African wine,
and those who are directly involved and committed
to it. The future of the surroundings, the fauna and
flora with which the wines interact, is also a critical
component of the long-term growth and development
of the industry.
The ‘Sustainability 360’ theme is a nod both to the full
circle or 360° sustainability achieved by the industry
and its age. Since the very first day Cape grapes were
fermented in 1659, over 360 years of winemaking have
been notched up.
Much more recently, the Integrated Production of
Wine scheme (IPW) was established in 1998. Producers
comply with IPW requirements and are independently
audited. Farms that pass the audit are
entitled to use the sustainability endorsement.
As WOSA CEO Siobhan Thompson wrote recently:
“Without sustainability, there can be no growth”. The
stance resonates with Gilbert & Gaillard, as illustrated
by this special editorial feature (page 74) which sheds
light on the wines and practices of these committed
wineries.
AUTUMN 2022 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE
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