Fury over SA wine for Fifa

May 5, 2009

It seems to me that where ever FIFA go - there is bound to be some sort of a problem. They rule with an iron fist don’t they.

But that is a seperate topic - the theme here is that the South African wine industry is fuming over the tendering process involved in supplying wine to FIFA delegates during the Confederations Cup in July.

You can read the full article here.

Here are some of the highlights:

One bone of contention is the appointment of the wine industry’s executive body, Wines of South Africa (Wosa), as the institution overseeing the provision of wine at Fifa’s dinners and places of accommodation.

.. Wosa accepted the role of facilitator while it was not part of its mandate as generic marketing body for South African wines offshore.

Who does one appoint then?

.. wine producers had less than a week to participate in the tendering process.

How long does it take to send an email with your tender?

What especially peeved the wine experts is the fact that the standards of the well-known Platter Wine Guide was used as reference, and that only wines receiving a three-and-a-half-star rating in Platter could were eligible to supply wine.

Of course this last point of contention bought Pendock out of the woodworks to say the following:

Pendock reckons however that R600 000 worth of wine sales is at stake, as well as the reputation of South African wines among Fifa’s guests.

He believes that whoever advised Fifa has done a disservice to both the industry and the guests.

Well, my understanding of all of this is that the wine industry simply has no confidence in WOSA at all - which seems to be a common theme and a historical feeling.

Posted in SA Wine Industry