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• Named after the majestic views of the Simonsberg Mountain, Simonsig Estate is situated in the famous Stellenbosch Winelands region, 27 miles of Cape Town. • The late Frans Malan, Simonsig’s founding father, was a pioneer of the South African wine industry. He bought the farm in 1953 and when he passed away in 2003, he had the experience of 50 vintages. His sons took over the running of the business in 1983. Francois is the viticulturist and Managing Director and Johan is the Cellar Master. QUINTESSENTIAL IMPORTER | MARKETER | DISTRIBUTOR www.quintessentialwines.com
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The Geology The Climate The Geography South Africa boasts the oldest The climate is Mediterranean, The typography of Stellenbosch vineyard soils in the world, is characterized by its undulating with cold, wet winters and dry, originating from the ancient red hills with the distinctive high hot summers. seabed that decomposed over mountains looming in the millions of years to form a soil The Simonsig vineyards are background. type known as the Table situated 9 miles from the Atlantic Mountain sandstone. It is important to note that these Ocean, with sea breezes cooling rolling hills are not that steep, the vines in summertime, The lower hills bear decomposed guarding against exposure to allowing vines to be planted to sedimentary clay soils known as excessive heat. their very tops, with the highest weather-bed shale. These clay vineyards growing at 155 miles soils have excellent above sea level. water-retentive capacity, enabling the plant to draw sufficient moisture right up to harvest time. QUINTESSENTIAL IMPORTER | MARKETER | DISTRIBUTOR www.quintessentialwines.com
Total area under vineyards is 520 acres. We employ about 130 permanent staff and in peak season about 200 including seasonal staff. All the grapes are crushed in the modern Simonsig cellar which is equipped with the latest technology to handle a total harvest in excess of 2 500 tons. Simonsig currently produces 1,925,000 bottles of wine per year. QUINTESSENTIAL IMPORTER | MARKETER | DISTRIBUTOR www.quintessentialwines.com
• Simonsig is a member of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative. • Simonsig is fully compliant with the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW). • The Estate is committed to the well-being of its people. Simonsig instituted childcare in 1979. • Simonsig is also WIETA compliant. This initiative recognizes ethical trade in agriculture. QUINTESSENTIAL IMPORTER | MARKETER | DISTRIBUTOR www.quintessentialwines.com
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) Statement on documentary focused on working conditions in some South African vineyards • WOSA's official statement in response to the documentary: • The South African wine industry has come a long way in recent years to work together in order to improve the sustainability of one of its biggest assets - the workers. Whilst we recognize that there is still a lot of work to be done, there are numerous program that include social upliftment, housing, land reform, education, skills and medical care for farm workers and their families. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of bodies such as WIETA and Fairtrade, there are regular audits across the board that support and encourage positive change with regular audits, however these changes simply cannot happen overnight. It will take time, but the reality is that change is taking place, even despite many wine farmers running their businesses on very tight margins. • What is needed now is more support of the industry, instead of boycotting it. Each liter of wine sold at the right price point contributes to the successful growth of the industry, which directly translates into a flourishing industry where all its stakeholders, including its workers, are supported. Increased sales of higher priced wines bottled in South Africa will generate better profit margins and have a direct influence in the well being of these farming communities and should be encouraged across the board. • WOSA (Wines of South Africa) is the promoter of South African wines’ image abroad, with representation across the globe. Its main focus being generic marketing, Wosa’s actions include research and frequent communication to exporter-members, liaison with international wine media and other export- related stakeholders, as well as participation in major wine expos world-wide. • Job Creation: South Africa exports 4% of world wine exports, and has created about 300,000 jobs in the South African wine industry. The industry's labor to capital ratio – meaning the amount of jobs created per R1 million ($73,000) invested – is at 4.64, which exceeds the agricultural average of 4.54, as well as that of the national economy at 2.94. • WIETA: The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA) is an initiative created to drive ethical trade in the South African wine industry. Workers protection is the highest aspiration of the WIETA code and more than 45,000 agricultural workers benefited in 2015 from improved living and working conditions? as a result of WIETA efforts. • Fairtrade: South Africa boasts impressive ethical certification figures as the world’s foremost producer of Fairtrade wine. South Africa produces more than 66% of all wine sold globally under the Fairtrade label. • At least 20% of industry funds obtained through statutory levies – at a value of around R22 million (USD $ 1.6 million) – are reserved for transformation efforts (empowering formerly disadvantages workers), which are coordinated by a Transformation Unit. • Enterprise development: At present there are at least 44 black economic development initiatives wine grape properties, representing an estimated 2 500 ha, at an average market value of R200 000 per hectare. • Ownership: There are at present around 37 black-owned wine brands in the industry. • Family Support: 886 children monitored at child development and aftercare facilities QUINTESSENTIAL IMPORTER | MARKETER | DISTRIBUTOR www.quintessentialwines.com
As a South African wine producer, Simonsig shares the concerns at the situation sketched in the Danish documentary Bitter Grapes. We do not believe that this represents the general state on South African wine farms, and would prefer this to be communicated to you by the relevant industry bodies who are also concerned at the skew picture that has been shown. Seeing that you did ask for certain information with regards to Simonsig’s social responsibility ethos, we confirm that as one of Stellenbosch’s oldest registered wine estate’s we have for many years realized that the well-being of our wine brand and our entire business is dependent on the people that live and work on our farms. Social responsibility is part of the DNA. We therefore proactively assure that we comply with all official certification and audits from the relevant authorities tasked with ensuring the necessary standards are upheld. This includes certification from Wieta, HACCP, IPW and CVC, standards that ensure responsible and ethical wine production. These ensure we subscribe to all facets of fair working conditions, remuneration, safety in the vineyard and work place, et al. Committed to the well-being of our people, Simonsig offers various mentorship and leadership programs to its staff and their children, as well as an on-site crèche and aftercare facility managed in association with the Anna Foundation. Herewith a brief summary: · Simonsig employs 124 permanent wage earners (paid weekly), of which 72% live on the estate. Remuneration is decidedly above the prescribed minimum. · Estate population: 260 people (workers and their families that live on the estate). · We have 55 houses on the estate, all with electricity and running water. · Simonsig subsidizes doctor, dentist and optometrist appointments for all permanent workers. · Simonsig employs a registered social worker for three days per week to see to the needs of the staff and people living on Simonsig. · Simonsig management has a monthly meeting with the Trade Union representatives (Sikhule Sonke) during which worker issues are discussed and resolved. (continued…) QUINTESSENTIAL IMPORTER | MARKETER | DISTRIBUTOR www.quintessentialwines.com
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