Wine growers’ charity extends beyond industry’s needs
Charity, as the adage reminds us, begins at home — and the wine industry is acutely aware of this. For the past 30 years — during which time the relationship between grape growers/winemakers and the state was visibly combative — producers learnt to function without any assistance from the government. More recently, however, there has been evidence of “toenadering ”— though not to the point that anyone would describe the spirit of engagement as “cosy”. Bad blood doesn’t evaporate overnight.
The government could do a lot more to ensure the viability of a sector that makes an important contribution to the economy and to our balance of payments — and employs (directly or indirectly) more than 250,000 people. It need look no further than Australia for an example worth following: trade deals with China (which went badly wrong during the Covid19 pandemic), Britain, the EU and most recently India, have played a crucial role in supporting that country’s wine exports.
The government also takes a hefty chunk of producers’ revenues (in taxes and excise) while giving little or nothing in return. It does play a role in the imposition and collection of the statutory levies used, for example, to co-fund export activities. While the money comes from the producers, not the fiscus (which makes it another tax), at least it is ringfenced for industry-specific purposes.
But the wine growers’ commitment to self-funding extends far beyond paying for the institutions required to maintain business efficiency. They are generous contributors to charitable causes, mainly — though by no means exclusively
— among their own communities. Donations through WineX and East London’s Gately Wine Auction yield more than R1m annually for projects managed by Rotary. During Covid it was the farmers
— themselves the victims of the government’s bizarre liquor lockdown regulations — who set up soup kitchens to feed unemployed seasonal workers.
However, by far its biggest charitable initiative is the Cape Wine Auction, the brainchild of Mike Ratcliffe (formerly of Warwick but now the proprietor of Vilafonte) and DeMorgenzon’s Wendy Appelbaum. Since its inception in 2014 the auction has raised about R125m. The beneficiaries of the auction are mainly young people living in the Cape winelands. The auction’s trustees are directly involved in determining where the funds should be disbursed.
In reality, this means identifying the charities that work with disadvantaged communities, ensuring that money is spent in a way that optimises the investment. The focus is obviously on education, but given the context, this extends to social support, providing meals and supplementing funding for established educational facilities.
The 2024 auction will be hosted on February 3 at the Muratie Estate in Stellenbosch, one of the region’s oldest properties. Attendance is open to members of the public, but requires a generous donation: the afternoon garden party at which the wines and travel experiences are sold is a splendid and indulgent occasion.
For those who come to shop, there is a vast array of items on offer, mostly donated by the wine farms and their proprietors. These include stays on Benguerra Island in Mozambique and Corfu in Greece. For those seeking something closer to home, one of the lots pairs accommodation at Ellerman House in Cape Town with a bush visit to the Silvan Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve.
THEY ARE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS TO CHARITABLE CAUSES, MAINLY — THOUGH NOT EXCLUSIVELY — AMONG THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES
Unsurprisingly, there is a great deal of wine for sale — mainly by the barrel — all from leading SA producers. This year, for the first time, a unique Cape Wine Auction label will grace each bottle. The barrel offerings include Kanonkop Pinotage 2020, Glen Carlou Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Paul Clüver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2022, Rupert & Rothschild Baroness Nadine Chardonnay 2023 and Diemersdal The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2023.
Since each barrel contains 300 bottles, the volume may prove a challenge to individual buyers. On the other hand, 25 dozen is an easy enough quantity to syndicate among like-minded friends and colleagues.
The Cape Wine Auction is registered as a public benefit organisation and the trust has been granted Section 18 (1) (a) donations tax exemption status.