<P> KWV was founded as a winemaking co-operative on 8 January 1918 by wine makers from the Western Cape in South Africa, with Dr. Charles Kohler as its chairperson . The name "Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Suid - Afrika" is Afrikaans for "Co-operative Winemakers Union' of South Africa", but today KWV represents a well - known global wine and spirits brand producing a large portfolio of products . </P> <P> The purpose of KWV was to create unity amongst the wine farmers of South Africa and to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of South African wines and brandies . From the early 1920s, the co-operative was granted increasing legislative control over the production, sale and export of South Africa's distilling wine and spirits, which allowed the body to experiment with innovations in the industry which aided its development . The organisation also invested a great deal in the promotion of South African wine and brandy both locally and abroad . KWV's legal hand over the industry was lifted with the end of Apartheid in 1990 and subsequent change in government, and in 1997 converted from a co-operative to a company structure . </P> <P> In 2004, KWV negotiated the South African wine industry's largest BBBEE deal with Phetogo (Pty) Ltd, attaining 25, 1% shares . For the first time, KWV products entered the local market with its branded wines and brandies, having previously only been available to international consumers . Today, KWV forms a subsidiary of Niveus Investments, part of the HCI black empowerment investment group, and is the only South African producer listed on Drinks International's Most Admired Wine Brands Global register . </P> <P> In October 2016 KWV was acquired by the Vasari group under leadership of Mr Vivian Imerman . Based in London, Vasari is a consumer focussed investment group that acquired the operational assets of KWV for ZAR 1.15 billion . </P>

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