The Intriguing World Of African Wines

Writer: Sarah Kerr Photography: Sarah Kerr

The way we view and consume wine is rapidly changing and this was very evident at the recent Wines of South Africa (WOSA) Grand Tasting event held at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

The event showcases South African wines in all their diversity, expanding a burgeoning interest in wine on the African continent. The wine industry is changing. This has come about as travellers’ appetite for local products grows and the purchasing power of Africa’s developing middle class increases. Added to these is the evident demand for organic and socially responsible wines and this event aims to de-mystify wine and ensure that African markets have access to African wines.

The inaugural WOSA Grand Tasting consisted of a training day for those in the tourism and restaurant industries and a tasting event the following day.

I was thrilled to participate in the tasting and made my way to the manicured green lawns of the Victoria Falls Hotel where dappled afternoon sunlight filtered through the large trees. Wine-tasting stalls were arranged on the periphery of the lawn and umbrellas, tables and couches were strewn across it, giving people plenty of room to enjoy the beverages on offer.

At my first tasting, I was offered a Ladybird chenin blanc from Laibach Wine Estate. I was intrigued by the bottle and asked the distributor about it. As I inhaled the wine’s aroma and took my first delicious sip he explained that it is an organic wine. Each January the winemakers release thousands of ladybirds into the vineyards to combat pests, avoiding the need for traditional pesticides. I was charmed by this story behind the wine and as the day went on I continued to find more intriguing stories. For instance, there is the Rhino Range from Linton Park Wines who give a portion of their profit to the conservation of rhinos in South Africa and bottle their wine in eco–friendly, lightweight glass bottles.

Also, I met two powerhouse female winemakers, Ginny Povall from Botanica Wines and Karlin Nel from Vrede en Lust, who are succeeding in a typically male-dominated industry. Ginny has taken the wine world by storm despite being a relative newcomer in the world of winemaking, and her wines consistently earn five-star reviews from critics, while Karlin, impressively, is already head winemaker for Vrede en Lust at just 27 years old.

Ovation wine from Diemersfontein is truly a socially responsible wine. The business is owned by the staff of Diemersfontein—all of the staff, not just the top management— allowing them truly to invest in the wine they are

The Wines of South Africa (WOSA) Grand Tasting is an annual event held at the Victoria Falls Hotel and takes place in late October.

This year’s event will host industry training events which will equip participants to introduce and explore the wines of our region with guests, plus public events for those who wish to know more about their tipple. It is also an exciting opportunity for importers to meet producers.

To register, contact event coordinator Kudakwashe Hove atinfo@lewaandco.comor Victoria Falls Hotel Deputy General Manager, Farai Chimba on dgm@victoriafallshotel.com

making; from the people tending the vines…and those picking the grapes… to the makers in the cellar.

As I sipped my final glass of wine after a truly enjoyable afternoon, I thought of how all of these delicious wines truly contribute to the issues faced in Africa, and what Matome Mbatha from WOSA said earlier that day… ‘People in Africa should be drinking African wines, not Bordeaux.’ I cannot help but echo this sentiment. Wine is an amazing complement to tourism; it enhances guests’ experience… and what better way to do this than by sharing wines and their stories from our beautiful continent.

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