Examining the South African wine industry reveals an impressive level of success, but one whose long-term prospects are undermined by bifurcation within the industry. The Triple Helix institutions work well in one side of the industry, but are weak or missing in the other. We thus have two industries, one highly successful at reaching world markets with quality wine, and the other focused on local or bulk wine markets. The challenges to cooperation undermine the efforts to build a national brand.