OUR HISTORY
Our History: In 1918, the year Nelson Mandela was born, South African wine farmers founded KWV (Ko-operatiewe Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika). The aim was to stabilise a young, but promising, industry.
1918
Dr. Charles W. H. Kohler is elected as KWV’s Chairman and becomes one of the most important figures in the Cape Wine industry in the twentieth century.
1924
The KWV Act is passed, and specific administrative responsibilities, as well as the sole exporting and importing of surplus alcohol, are assigned to KWV.
1926
KWV becomes one of the first brandy producers in the Cape. In 1926, it bottled its first commercial brandy and exported it to the UK.
1928
Professor Abraham Izak Perold, the legendary botanist, ampelograph and wine scientist who developed the Pinotage grape, joins KWV and becomes responsible for the experimentation of new cultivars and to improve quality control processes.
1930
KWV develops alternatives to wine for export, including a healthy grape juice drink and KWV Eau de Cologne crafted by the Master Distiller for use as marketing material.
1930
KWV completes its impressive main cellar, naming it the Cathedral Cellar due to its dome-like ceiling and the captivating play of light in the beautiful space.
1935
France signs the Crayfish Agreement, granting exclusive rights to French geographical terms such as Champagne and Bordeaux on wine labels in exchange for importing South African crayfish.
1939
The outbreak of World War II causes exports to decline and domestic brandy consumption to increase. Then, KWV expands its export market to Africa and the East
1940
KWV’s responsibilities expand to include determining the minimum
price for all wines.
1942
A massive fire devastates the KWV cellars in Stellenbosch – rescuers salvage and transport a single barrel of prized KWV Brandy to Paarl.
1949
The official launch of Roodeberg in 1949 establishes it as one of South Africa’s most iconic wines, largely owing to its scarcity value and its limited availability in South Africa.
1951
The father of KWV, Dr. Charles Kohler, chairs his last meeting at KWV and sadly passes away the following year
1955
KWV celebrates 300 years of winemaking in the Cape with its fellow producers and winemakers.
1958
La Concorde, KWV’s head office, is completed by Louw & Louw Architects. This sees the beginning of KWV’s extensive art collection.
1959
KWV constructs a modern cellar with cold fermentation – one of the first of its kind – in time for the 1962 harvest.
1964
KWV becomes a leader in wine education with a series of wine and food appreciation courses and films.
1971
Serious natural wine shortages in the local industry force KWV to import large quantities of wine from Bordeaux.
1972
KWV significantly contributes to the highly acclaimed South African Wine of Origin (WO) scheme, which KWV initiated in 1972 and officially implemented in 1973 – a certification system respected worldwide. The WO system changed from a certification system to an origin system in 1979, and thanks to KWV and its various contributors, it has continued to evolve into the highly lauded tour de force it is known for today.
1974
KWV creates the wine house concept to promote a culture around the appreciation of good food and wine in a social environment. They establish Laborie Wine House in Paarl, Paddagang in Tulbagh, Kleinplasie in Worcester, Brandewyndraai in Robertson, and Doornbosch in Stellenbosch.
1979
KWV purchases 30% of Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery and Distillers Corporation, and together with Rembrandt, acquires the majority joint interest in Kaapwyn in a move to restructure the industry. This also opens up new distribution possibilities for KWV
1980
A challenging political situation and consequent poor economy sees KWV developing new products such as flavoured wines to stimulate the local market. As a result, its grape concentrate business booms.
1984
KWV plays a vital role in the establishment of the South African Brandy Foundation.
1989
History: KWV is a founder member of the Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA)
1990
KWV plays a central role in regulating the industry until the early 1990s when world markets opened to South African wine exports after apartheid.
1992
KWV opens the revamped KWV Brandy cellar in Worcester to the public as the KWV House of Brandy, which quickly becomes an important and popular tourist attraction.
1997
KWV converts from a co-operative to a company, with restrictions on trading of shares. In addition, it wins the President’s Award for export achievement
1999
KWV starts paying funds to support the South African Wine Industry Trust (SAWIT).
2003
The authorities lifted restrictions on KWV share trading and made shares available to the general public.
2004
KWV negotiates the South African wine industry’s largest BBBEE deal with Phetogo (Pty) Ltd, attaining
25,1% shares and for the first time, KWV products enter the local market with its branded wines and brandies
2006
KWV launches its Diamond Jubilee Brandy (a blend of 10, 12, 15 and 23 year old brandies), to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary on the throne
2009
KWV Ltd. becomes KWV Holdings Ltd. as part of an unbundling of its indirect interest in the Distell group
2011
• KWV’s shareholder of reference, Zeder, sells its shares to Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI). The following year, HCI becomes the majority shareholder of KWV (52%), resulting in the company becoming a subsidiary of Niveus Investments (HCI).
• KWV makes history at the Veritas Wine Awards, winning the most Gold and Double Gold awards in show history, and is named Producer of the Year.
• KWV extends its RTD portfolio with the addition of Jimmijagga and Ciao.
2012
KWV further extends its RTD portfolio with the addition of KWV 3 & Cola.
2014
History: South Africa’s first Cognac is launched by KWV. The company unveils its KWV Heritage XO Cognac, the first to be produced under a South African brand name, as well as 30-year-old KWV Nexus, the world’s first commercially
available brand containing potstill up to 42 years old.
2015
KWV’s 15-year-old Potstill Brandy wins the Worldwide Trophy for Brandy at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) – making it the company’s 10th claim to this coveted title.
2016
Vasari, a leading consumer focused investment group acquires KWV from HCI. Vivian Imerman, Chairman of Vasari said: “In retaining the KWV brand we recognise the proud heritage and exceptional brand equity. It is also a testament to our commitment to extending the brand’s legacy and its strategic growth across African and Asian emerging and frontier markets. The acquisition now makes it possible for us to broaden our offerings to customers in newer markets.
2016
Drinks International names KWV as the Highest Ranked South African Wine Brand in the World’s Top 50 Most Admired Wine Brands.
2018
History made: KWV releases its KWV Centenary Brandy, a blend of the very first brandy made by KWV in 1926, as well as brandy from the only barrel rescued from a fire that razed KWV’s historic cellars in 1942. The balance is completed with KWV’s rarest brandies, averaging 42 years of age.
2019
Roodeberg, the legendary red blend that has been bringing friends together the world over since 1949, celebrates its 70th anniversary
2020
KWV is named Top Producer at the acclaimed Veritas Wine Awards and takes home the coveted Veritas Vertex Award for The Mentors Orchestra 2018, the highest scoring wine overall – a Bordeaux-style red blend.
2021
KWV’s Chief Viticulturist, Marco Ventrella is named ‘Viticulturist of the Year’ by acclaimed UK wine critic, Tim Atkin (Master of Wine) in his annual South Africa Special Report.
