Est. 2017, #tastesunshine was born as an initiative to get all South Africans to enjoy a bottle of South African wine on Heritage Day, aka Braai Day, celebrated on 24th September. Three years ago, we kicked off #tastesunshine with a massive braai bash in the South African winelands, we lit the fires, had a big kuier and celebrated our local wine industry.
Joining us were thousands of people around the country and abroad, sharing their pics of them enjoying their South African wine, all over the globe! It was quite like one big virtual celebration, like the ones we have now become so used to in 2020.
Some memories from previous #tastesunshine years - Creation Wines (left) and Bouchard Finlayson (right) with their braai and wine on Heritage Day
This year, we call on everyone again to celebrate South African wine together, while being apart. In the midst of a global pandemic, a lot has changed and we will miss the big braai with all our friends and family gathered together. But we are all clued up on Zoom and video calls and syncing different time zones to keep in touch and in a way we are more prepared than ever to have one big conversation and celebration like this.
If you'll allow us to be really cheesy, there is even more sunshine to #tastesunshine this year as the lift of our local alcohol ban is like sunshine after very dark and heavy clouds loomed over our industry for the past few months. And in the light of the alcohol ban, that has had a destructive impact on the wine and hospitality industry, we are happy to add the positive #tastesunshine conversation to the #SaveSAWine and #DrinkSouthAfrican conversations that have already seen massive support flood into the South African wine industry from all around the world. We are hugely grateful for all the international support for our industry while local wine sales were banned and exports was the only income for SA wine producers.
Our aim with #tastesunshine has always been to highlight the quality of South African wines, which has increasingly gained international acclaim, but this year we add the message of resilience and determination of our wine farms who have soldiered on in the face of harsh lockdown regulations and even supported those more vulnerable than them through feeding schemes and various campaigns to support local restaurants to stay in business.
There's no better day to show your pride and support for South African wine than on Heritage Day, a day when few South Africans can resist having a braai and opening a bottle of their favourite South African wine. wine.co.za is encouraging every South African winery, every South African embassy, every South African business, and every South African around the globe to show the world just how lekker our wine is. It is really simple, just open up a bottle and then be sure to post pics of your day on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook using #tastesunshine.
We are giving away one of our popular Taste of Chenin Blanc packs for one lucky wine lover sharing their pics with us on Thursday, 24 September.
This competition will run on Facebook and the winning wines is for delivery in South Africa only.