DRDLR pumps in R15m to assist local wine production
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) has committed R15m to the Mayime Winery co-operative at the Shiloh Irrigation Scheme for the construction of their own wine cellar.
This was stated by Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) mayor Kholiswa Vimbayo during the third harvest of grapes since 2016, when 3 800 bottles of wine were produced.
Mayime is the producer of the Inkosi wine currently sold at the Komani Pick ‘n Pay store and is funded by the Chris Hani District Agency (CHDA).
Vimbayo said the municipality was also in talks with the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) to increase the hectares of land on which the grapes are planted.
“We started harvesting here around 5am today because under normal circumstances the harvested grapes need to be squeezed within four hours. In our case, all the grapes we harvested today will be transported by truck to Cape Town by 9am. This is one of the reasons we feel we need own wine cellar so we can make the wine here and save shipping costs.”
The chairman of Mayine, Selbourne Cecane, said after the massive 2016 production of 3 800 bottles of wine, they improved in the second harvest in 2017 by producing 12 000 bottles.
“This year we will produce a greater quantity of Inkosi wine than the previous harvest because we did not have much rain, which negatively affects the produce. Rain affects the amount of sugar in the grapes and the lack of it makes for 100% sugar in them.
“We hope by next year we will have our own wine cellar. Engineers have already been here to view the place which made us even more hopeful. The cellar will help create more jobs for young people who live in Hewu. We currently employ 30 people full time and during the harvest season we increase employment by a further 100 temporary jobs. Having the wine cellar would see more people from this area being employed on a full-time basis because we would need cleaners and people to help with bottling and other tasks.”
Cecane said he hoped DRDAR would assist them by enlarging the land on which they operate from the current 14ha to 100ha to increase the production of Inkosi wine.