The world between 2015 to 2018 was a time of (some) social accountability (#MeToo) and ethical transparency with the Cambridge Analytica scandal revelaing that millions of Facebook users information had been harvested without consent for political advertising, triggering a global reckoning over data privacy and Big Tech.
It is no surprise then that we found it necessary to start our #wineforgood campaign in 2016, focusing on all the good work being done in the SA Wine industry, as well as partnering with the PYDA (Pinotage Youth Development Academy) to provide internships for their graduates.
It is fascinating to see what else was going on in the world at this time:
- "Weekend Special" (2015): In December 2015, President Jacob Zuma shocked the nation by firing Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene and replacing him with the relatively unknown Des van Rooyen. The markets went into a tailspin, the public revolted, and just four days later, Van Rooyen was removed and Pravin Gordhan was brought in. Van Rooyen was forever affectionately dubbed the "Weekend Special."
- The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in June 2016, resulting in Brexit.
- First image of a black hole (2019): Scientists captivated the world by releasing the first-ever actual photograph of a black hole (located in the Messier 87 galaxy), captured by the Event Horizon Telescope.
- Trump was voted in for the first time as US President in 2016 (and terrifyingly again in 2025)
- #MeToo movement (2017): Following the exposure of allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, a global movement against sexual harassment and assault erupted, fundamentally changing workplace cultures worldwide.
- Same-sex marriage milestones: Legalized in the United States by the Supreme Court in 2015, followed by Ireland (by popular vote in 2015), and Australia (following a national postal survey in 2017).
- #FeesMustFall and #RhodesMustFall (2015–2016): South African universities became the epicenter of the biggest student-led protests since 1976, and we had first-hand experience of this as our daughter Leila was studying journalism at Rhodes University at the time and was a traumatic experience.
- "Day Zero" was real with the water crisis in Cape Town reaching beyond critical levels, but Capetonians responded with peak South African spirit, measuring 2-minute showers with songs, reusing washing water, bragging about dirty cars, and installing rain tanks like they were status symbols. Through sheer collective willpower, the city beat Day Zero.
And... back to my reminiscing...
Extreme Wine Pairing with wine.co.za
One of the most impactful people in the South African wine industry is our inimitable French-born #flyingsommelier, Jean Vincent Ridon. He has done so much to extend the reach of the South African wine industry, get sommellerie off the ground, and train young people to get them into hospitality, and I am proud to say that we have had a great partnership through all the years we have known each other. An event is not the same without a selfie with JV!
JV, as he is fondly known, arrived in South Africa at about the same time that we started wine.co.za, and he took the title of Best Sommelier of South Africa in 2023, a most deserved honour.
In 2016, JV took up video production and with his studio set up, of course we partnered with him and our winery partners to produce 12 videos, in which he had fun pairing wine with some unusual foods. The series was called Extreme Pairing with wine.co.za.
They were fun and irreverent but also informative and engaging. Here are a few fun ones:
This was also a time where the TOPS at Spar Wine Shows became very popular around the country and we paired up with JV again for a LIVE Extreme Wine Pairing.
Click HERE to read more about it.
The pivot to purpose – a decade of #wineforgood
Every industry faces a "moment of truth", and for the South African wine world, that moment arrived via a Danish journalist's lens. In 2016, when reports surfaced detailing the challenging living conditions of some farmworkers, the industry found itself in the crosshairs of a global PR crisis. While many of the claims were complex and varied, the collective response was fragmented and defensive.
At wine.co.za, we realized that while official bodies debated the headlines, the heartbeat of the industry, the actual stories of upliftment, transformation, and care happening on hundreds of farms, was being drowned out.
We decided to change the narrative.
Instead of joining the shouting match, we launched wineforgood.co.za. Our mission was simple: provide a platform for the industry to showcase the "good" that often goes unnoticed. We chose to let the officials handle the crisis communications, while we focused on the human stories that defined our resilient community.
What started as a response to a crisis has evolved into a decade-long institution. We have since been:
- Publishing hundreds of stories: Documenting everything from farm-side crèches and mobile clinics to worker-owned vineyard success stories.
- Producing high-impact videos: Giving a face and a voice to the people who are the true foundation of our industry.
- Reclaiming April: We turned Freedom Month into #wineforgood month. Every single day throughout April, we publish a new 'good news' story, ensuring that the spirit of transformation remains front and center.
Today, #wineforgood is more than just a website; it is an archive of progress. It serves as a reminder that while there is always work to be done, there is also an incredible amount of heart, investment, and progress worth celebrating in our winelands.
In 2017, it was time to celebrate our 21st and launch #tastesunshine
Wine is, of course, sunshine in a bottle, so we thought it would be wonderful to have everyone around the world taste a bit of South African sunshine. No better way than to open a great bottle of South African wine, anywhere in the world, share it with your friends, and #tastesunshine.
This went well with Braai Day/Heritage Day on 24 September, and so we combined our 21st birthday celebrations with wonderful South African experiences of singing, dancing, trapeze, braai, connecting with old friends, and much mirth. We were delighted and surprised to be presented by a beautiful 21st mosaic by Sophia Warner from the Pebbles Project. We have been very proud to be a media partner of the Pebbles Project since its inception.
The wine.co.za team in September 2017 celebration our 21st birthday and #tastesunshine.
It was also our first engagement with the Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA), as we had a number of their students working at the event. One of them was Yoliswa Masekwane, who then joined our team for a few years and is now working at Aslina.
We have since had a very engaging partnership with the PYDA, as for six years after that, we ran an annual internship for a PYDA graduate, giving them 12 months of work experience before they set off into the world of wine.
Another organisation making such a difference in the world of wine and development of people, we are proud also to be a media partner of the PYDA since inception.
To see all the #tastesunshine and 21st pics, click HERE.
The TOPS at Spar Wine Shows
Getting 'liquid to lips' was the mantra in the last few years of the 2010s, and with burlesque being the flavour of the countrywide TOPS at Spar Wine Shows, we joined up to showcase our wares. We set up a dress up photo booth and we (Ruaan Spence, Kevin Kidson and I) dressed up and made merry, while quietly gathering names for our wine shop!
Much fun was had at the TOPS Wine Shows.
To see more pics of the TOPS at Spar Wine Shows, click HERE.
30 years of connection
Today, wine.co.za remains rooted in that original vision: Using systems thinking to tell human stories.
What began as an on-ramp for an industry in transition has evolved into the reliable central hub where that industry meets, grows, and shares its success with the world.
We would not be where we are without the support of our many friends, our clients, the industry, and, of course, our wonderful team. A huge thank you to all!
For more on wine.co.za and our 30 years, click HERE. Keep an eye on our 30th Birthday Spotlight for more stories.
Let the countdown begin! This article is the fourth in our Countdown series – one per month till August, when we celebrate our 30th birthday.