The Gôiya range – a Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz/Pinotage – enjoys popularity in 15 countries and counts among South Africa’s ten largest wine trademarks abroad. Gôiya derives its name from the San word for wine. The flagship of the range is an unwooded 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, which is also the top seller among the three wines. Winemaker Pieter Verwey describes the fruity, semi-dry wine as refreshing, with the citrus and green fig aromas characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc, while the thumbprint buttery lime flavours of Chardonnay is also evident. The wine should preferably be enjoyed with fish or pasta and salads while it is still young (within six months of purchase). Gôiya’s full-bodied, fruity Shiraz/Pinotage – a blend of 75% Shiraz and 25% Pinotage – exudes ripe berry flavours, with a hint of spices on taste. Winemaker Len Knoetze advises wine lovers to enjoy the wine with meat dishes, pasta, pizza or cheese, within 12 months of purchase. The ruby red Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon is fruity, with ample red berry and plum aromas and a hint of chocolate. The wine – 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon – is the perfect partner to red meat and game dishes. Wine lovers can acquire Gôiya at the budget-friendly price of R18-00 for the Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc, R22-00 for the Shiraz/Pinotage and R30-00 for the Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon, from liquor stores countrywide. WestCorp International is the result of a merger in November 2002 between the gigantic Vredendal and neighbouring Spruitdrift cellars on the banks of the Olifants River. An annual production of nearly 100 000 tons of grapes (7.5 million cases) has turned the company into one of largest wine producers in the world and into one of South Africa’s most prominent exporters of wine. Of WestCorp’s annual production of 70 million litres of wine, some 25 million litres are exported. WestCorp’s Gôiya and Namaqua trademarks are currently amongst the 25 best-selling brands in the United Kingdom. Gôiya and Namaqua are in the 25th and 13th position, respectively. Inanda Brut, another WestCorp product, is South Africa’s top-selling sparkling wine in the UK. WestCorp’s marketing manager, Fanie Augustyn, ascribes the group’s success to : Good value at the price point where WestCorp is represented, in other words, good value for money; Teamwork between the producers and the company in adjusting to rapidly changing market conditions. Four viticulturists who advise farmers play a cardinal role in this; A passion for wine and respect for the consumer of the product. These enable WestCorp to identify consumer preferences and to adjust wine styles to suit these demands; Focus on the creation of strong brand names, locally and internationally; Focus on innovation. WestCorp became the first cellar to install Otor technology for bag-in-box wines, the company owns one of only two SA sparkling wines made according to the charmat tradition, uses infra-red technology to determine when grapes have reached their optimal ripeness and was the first to introduce the latest thermo-vinification techniques for red wine production. Future plans for the local and overseas markets include: The consolidation of the Gôiya and Namaqua positions in their respective markets; The development of markets in the USA and the East; Extension of the current product ranges, both bag-in-box and in the bottle; The addition of an exciting new range of wines to the existing ranges. The progressive company is also proud of the fact that it became the first wine producer to gain simultaneous accreditation from ISO, HACCP and BRC. Issued by Marlene Truter Communications Contact: Marlene Truter Tel (021) 882 8626 / 083 294 6060 marlene@marlenetruter.co.za On behalf of WestCorp International Contact: Fanie Augustyn Tel (021) 913 6187 / 083-320 0748 fanie.augustyn@westcorp.co.za