The "Kooperatiewe Wijnbowers Vereniging van Zuid Afrika" was founded in 1918 as a central winegrowers' co-operative in South Africa, to which 95% of wine producers joined. The reason for its foundation was a major crisis in South African viticulture, which was characterised by surplus production and the bankruptcy of many winegrowers. For a long time, the famous winemaker and father of the new Pinotage variety, Professor Abraham Izak Perold (1880-1941), worked for the KWV as a viticulture expert. Until 1992, participation was only possible for white members. Production restrictions and annual minimum prices for fortified wines were set.
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Thomas Götz
Weinberater, Weinblogger und Journalist; Schwendi