Vinpro employs a number of agricultural specialists - researchers, scientists, viticulturists and agricultural economists - and provides specialised services.
Soil scientists provide soil mapping services using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These services include the drawing up of farm maps, aerial imagery, terrain analysis and digitising soil blocks within a vineyard or farm.
Advice on costs and profitability in the wine industry are provided by agricultural economists while researchers and viticulturists work at Vinpro affiliate Vititec, a leader in the improvement and propagation of vine plant material. Vititec evaluates, tests and supplies plant material, tests for diseases, and provides technical support from viticultural consultants.
The wine tourism manager collaborates with the wine and tourism sectors, government and the private sector to establish South Africa as a leading wine tourism destination.
Information transfer and development of people in the wine industry is further advanced by training, e-newsletters and publications. The annual publication Vinpro Cost Guide provides financial guidelines for wine grape production in South Africa. Another publication called Wineland provides wine and industry-related news and research articles while the annual South African Wine Industry Directory gives a summary of the current wine industry, new production areas and wine routes as well as up-to-date listings of suppliers, winemakers and wineries.
Vinpro’s Wine Cellars division looks after issues relating to wine cellars such as excise duties, advocacy for the responsible use of alcohol, ethical and social practices, training and marketing of members’ brands and representation of members in the industry.
WineMS is winery and farm management software that can manage all aspects of the winemaking process such as bulk wine management, spray programs, and cost management. WineMS helps with reports, data analysis, and document management and captures close to 70% of South Africa’s wine grape harvest is on WineMS’s information management software.
This dedicated farming IT business is situated in Paarl, Western Cape.
Other Vinpro services relating to social upliftment and transformation include black economic empowerment (BEE) advisory services, training programmes for vineyard workers, and advice on ethical practices.
South African wine is renowned across the world, with South African wine estates producing quality wine vintages every year. South African w...