After a few tough years due to drought, South Africa is coming back, according to the founder and chairman of the Premium Independent Wines of South Africa.

Accolade Wines has announced it will be investing more than £1m in South African wine brand Kumala with a new brand creative entitled ‘Keep it Kolourful’.

Kumala, the leading South African wine brand is the official wine sponsor of Sir Ian Botham’s eight day charity walk across South Africa, dubbed ‘Beefy Walking the Rainbow Nation’.

One million bottles of Kumala wine will carry an instant win competition neck collarettes in its 10,000 prize giveaway.

JF Hillebrand, leading logistics provider to the global beverage market, has clinched a five year worldwide freight services contract with Accolade Wines, the world’s fourth largest wine producer.

Troy Christensen, Accolade Wines' American CEO, is not a man encumbered with traditional values. Wine may traditionally come in 75cl bottles with a cork closure but what interests him is the move to pouches, bag-in-box and ready-to-serves (RTS).

After 14 years with McGuigan Wines, Paul Schaafsma, Accolade Wines’ general manager for the UK, Ireland, Africa, Middle East and South America, is acquainting himself with the company and the clock is ticking on the 90 days he has to come up with a strategic plan.

A leading South African businessman has called for the Rainbow nation’s wine industry to work towards becoming the world’s number one producer.