The CEO of Groot Constantia, one of South Africa’s greatest wine brands, and one of the world’s oldest, has issued a poignant message of hope amid the COVID-19 crisis. Groot Constantia is represented in duty free by Diverse Flavours.
Jean Naudé, who heads Groot Constantia (founded in 1685), noted that the company had come through many crises in the past. These include two World Wars, the Boer wars, the Great Depression, the Spanish Flu, the Bubonic Plague, the British invasion of Cape Town, the Great Storm of 1865, the earthquake of 1809, the Rinderpest, plus droughts, fires and pestilence.
“South Africans are feeling the brunt of national lockdown as we attempt to flatten the curve and protect our citizens from this virus. Wine farms have been hard hit as we have not been able to welcome visitors to our doors, nor sell our produce,” explained Naudé.
“However, as a witness to the testimony of how wine estates can adapt and survive – indeed thrive – after periods of crisis, my message to those in the wine industry is to have patience and faith. We will overcome this current crisis and open our doors again to the public, resume wine sales, as well as retake our position in the world market as a leading wine producer.”
Naudé added: “A tangible example of how adversity can be successfully overcome is found in the Manor House at Groot Constantia, which was originally built in 1685 and is now an Iziko Museum and the starting point to the unique Visitors Route Experience. In 1925 the manor, which had been modified over the years, was severely damaged by fire but was then meticulously restored and refurbished – maintaining it for future generations to come and allowing visitors to the Estate to catch a glimpse back in time.”
Groot Constantia is a Provincial heritage site and the Estate is a living, but working, museum that attests to how people and businesses can adapt and survive terrible adversity, noted the company. Some 335 after its founding, Groot Constantia has an uninterrupted record of wine production. “We have worked hard over the years to build up our wine reserves and are thankfully sitting on a very precious stock of award-winning red wine that we will continue to market to the public once we are able to”, said Naudé.
To protect visitors and staff, Groot Constantia closed its doors to the public ten days before the national lockdown. The Estate was able to complete its 2020 harvest, using strict measures to keep staff distanced and protected. The wine making team said that the harvest looks promising for this year’s vintage, particularly its Chardonnay.
Naudé said: “As the custodians of a business that is one of the oldest brands in the world that has endured so much in its centuries of trade, we at Groot Constantia want to say that South Africa will overcome this latest crisis, we will survive and endure – together.”
“We are greatly looking forward to opening Groot Constantia’s doors again to the public and to welcoming visitors who can immerse themselves in the history of our beautiful Estate, enjoy our award winning wines and a delicious meal at one of the two restaurants,” said Naudé. “We also look forward to continuing to present the rich heritage of the South African wine industry to the world.”
As noted above, Diverse Flavours is developing the Groot Constantia brand in duty free. Managing Director Anthony Budd said: “I think Jean Naudé’s comments are so well put and succinct. They provide the whole of the wine industry, not only those in South Africa, but around the world with optimism, the drive to persevere, to be resilient and above all with hope.
“Groot Constantia Wines represent one of the world’s most historic and iconic wine brands. We have just started our journey in duty free, and I expect this brand to become a staple brand portfolio in duty free shops around the world. Our latest listing is very exciting. We will be launching brands from the portfolio with Lotte Duty Free at Singapore Changi Airport in June.”
