About Us
We are the company of wine people. The value of our company is simple: our people make the difference. People with genuine pride and passion for wine. We’re a company that challenges traditional thinking by creating a welcoming authentic and personal environment where excellence is realised through open relationships. The collective pride and passion for who we are and what we do extend into our brands and the partnerships with suppliers distributors and customers who also pursue performance and profit.
Our values
Our key resource is our people their passion for our brands and wine drinkers who have pride in what we are and what we do in building sustainable business partnerships with suppliers distributors and customers in the pursuit of performance excellence and profit.
Our business
the company of wine people™ is one of South Africa's top wine producers and exporters. Our core brands include Kumkani – the king of South African wines; Thandi the world's first Fairtrade accredited wine; handcrafted Welmoed; unconventional Versus and export success Arniston Bay. With a winemaking team headed by Nicky Versfeld our company prides itself on providing wines of excellence for every drinking occasion. We believe that success is through partnership with people who share the vision of an efficient route to market.
Social aspects organisations
the company of wine people believes in enjoying alcohol responsible and only people who are of legal drinking age may access this website. Here are useful links for information and guidelines on responsible alcohol consumption in your country:
- South Africa: The South African Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA)
- United Kingdom: Drinkaware (Portman Group)
- Ireland: Meas (the Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society Limited)
- Scotland: Alcohol Focus Scotland
- Europe: The Amsterdam Group (TAG)
- Europe: European Forum for Responsible Drinking
- USA: The Century Council
- Canada: Éduc’alcool
- Netherlands: Horeca or GenietMaarDrinkMetMate
- Denmark: Goda
Key markets
The company's core objective is to manufacture and market branded wines on the South African and various international markets. These wines are branded under different brand names owned by the company and as some alliance labels where joint ventures have been engaged in as well as some exclusive labels for a few selected grocers in South Africa UK and Benelux. Although it is a stated objective to market all wines in value-added form where beneficial opportunities arise some bulk wines are sold.
The global aspirations of the company are being serviced through four regions as follows:
- Europe – UK Netherlands Belgium Germany Denmark Ireland Monopoly markets of Sweden Finland and Norway
- Southern Africa – South Africa and immediate neighbouring territories
- North America – USA and Canada
- Rest of the World – Selected markets in Australasia rest of Africa and South America
The major distribution channel vests in the local and international grocer trade but from the super-premium level upwards the specialist and on-trade are also targeted in a focused manner for distribution. Future growth will be driven by the international market although growth is also aimed for on the domestic market. The opportunities on the international horizon are so much greater and varied to make that an attractive proposition but a strong presence and position on the domestic market is essential to underpin the drive into international markets.
the company of wine peopleTM brand Arniston Bay is one of the best-selling international brands in the United Kingdom the Far East and parts of Europe. The company recently expanded its global footprint by entering the Russian Chinese and Indian markets.
Our eco-friendly innovations
The company is proving that it's taking steps in the right direction to reduce their carbon footprint and combat global 
warming by introducing alternative packaging such as convenient wine pouches (which take up less space in a landfill than glass bottles), tetra paks, PET and we will be switching to lightweight glass bottles for core brands. In keeping with the ‘green’ theme, the company created a stand at the recent Cape Wine trade show that was made entirely from recyclable, reusable or biodegradable materials.
Our company video
Click here to view our company video
Interesting links