South Africa’s Spier Wine Farm joins Freixenet Copestick

One of South Africa’s oldest wineries joins the Freixenet Copestick portfolio this month, and will be distributed through channels including Jascots and Slurp.

Spier Wine Farm, which dates back to 1692 and was one of the founding members of the Stellenbosch Wine Route, will become one of Freixenet Copestick’s biggest South African brands when it officially joins the group’s portfolio later this month.

Leading sparkling brand Freixenet Copestick, which acquired Bolney Wine Estate in January 2022, will no doubt use its expertise to position Spier’s wines, including its Cap Classique bubbles, across its extensive network via the likes of specialist on-trade supplier Jascots and online merchant Slurp.

With a keen focus on sustainability, Spier puts responsible farming front and centre, achieving soil fertility through high-density grazing and organic compost, among other techniques. It’s popular Spier Hotel is Fair Trade Tourism accredited and the restaurants on its farm were pioneers in South Africa’s farm-to-fork movement, with much of their produce grown on site.

“As the main South African group supplier in the Freixenet Copestick portfolio, Spier offers old world wine styles with new world innovation,” said Frans Smit, managing director of Spier Wine Farm. “Our common goal – delivering outstanding quality products in a sustainable manner – makes this partnership the perfect fit for us.”

Spier’s partnership with youth development programme, the Pinotage Youth Development Academy, offers education and employment to disadvantaged youths, while its Tree-preneurs venture, launched in 2009, teaches residents of impoverished South African communities how to care for indigenous plants, which can be exchanged for food and clothes vouchers, as well as agricultural tools.

“The South African wine industry has gone through a tough time of late. However, recognition of the quality of wines being produced continues to grow on the world stage, exemplified by established producers like Spier,” said Rob Hilton, head of operations, Freixenet Copestick.

“Not only are they producing exceptional wines at all quality levels but their core values of being good to the land and being good to the people resonate strongly with Freixenet Copestick values. We look forward to bringing their wines to a wider audience in the UK.”

Spier joins the likes of New Zealand’s Wither Hills and I heart Wines in Freixenet Copestick’s growing portfolio. Copestick’s parent company Henkell Freixenet grew to €1.3 billion last year, closing 2021 with 11% sales growth.