Wine: the future doesn't look like the past

The COVID-19 lockdown and its effects have undeniably changed South Africa’s wine landscape, according to Mike Ratcliffe, founder of Wine Business Advisors. Jeandré van der Walt spoke to him about what the wine industry would look like after the pandemic and how it should navigate the next few years to stay profitable and build big brands in a fiercely competitive world.

- Jeandre van der Walt

What is Wine Business Advisors (WBA) and how do you serve the wine industry?

The wine industry is complex; competition is fierce, and mistakes can be extremely costly. For the first time, a single, one-stop wine business advisory service gives wineries and hospitality businesses access to a focused group of highly experienced wine industry professionals.

We strive to transfer knowledge, open doors and share experience to turn the experiment into an experience. From winegrowing to margin management, from helping to create an integrated company culture to developing a digital marketing and communication strategy, WBA can guide a wine or hospitality business to become better and more profitable.

We’re a team of specialists with proven track records. Winemaking advisor Miles Mossop focuses on winemaking for profit, Colleen Norkie specialises in digital marketing and online communication strategies, while Rob Arnold advises on culture development and training. My personal advisory focuses on cutting-edge wine business advice for maximum profit, which is a broad focus that gets extremely specialised once a specific need is identified.

What inspired you to become involved in the wine industry?