MEMBERS of the Fourth Estate were invited to the first day of a three-day wine extravaganza showcasing the nectarine produce of 29 emerging local wine producers at the curiously named Prison Break Market in Glenferness, Johannesburg during the weekend of the 24th to the 26th July.
A free-entry annual lifestyle event named the Proudly South African Local Wine Expo, was hosted in partnership with W&R SETA, FoodBev Manufacturing SETA, Gauteng Liquor Board, San Quentin and Gauteng Tourism Authority – at a venue thus playfully named because of being located opposite the Leeuwkop Correctional Centre.
Exhibitors were Amari Lush, Amile Wines, Ayana Wines, Aslina Wines, Bombas Wines, Gatalenna Signature Wines, Gariburg Wines, House of Azari, House of D’licacy, Khula Wine, Khulu Fine Wine, Lali Wines, Lavo Wines, Luc Mo Wines, Metsi Wines, MKJ Wines, Mzansi Signature Wine, Nanola Wines, Petto Wines, Phumi Wines, Siwela Wines, St4u Wines, Thornleigh Wines, Toasted Barrels, Yethu Wines, Zintokazi Wines, Zoetendal Vineyards, Zoleka Wines and Zulu Girl Wines.
Among them, the producers presented a variety of offerings ranging from velvety reds such as Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, Pinot Noirs and Shirazes – to crisp and aromatic whites such as Chardonnays, Chenin Blancs and Sauvignon Blancs, and onto bubblies such as the very South African Cap Classique.
The opening day of the expo – which was billed as its media launch – commenced with a dedicated Buyers’ Session where exhibitors presented their products to potential buyers who comprised retailers, bulk liquor traders, hoteliers, restaurateurs and sommeliers.
The session was so as to provide prospective buyers exclusive access to the producers’ brands and facilitate a networking opportunity geared towards long-term business growth.
Strolling around the various stalls, one came across aspirant young exhibitors such as Amanda Ngubombini, the director of the Pretoria-based brand Petto Wines. Having started her label – which “references to a friend” – in 2019 and outlasting the disruptive Covid-19 period, she expressed gratitude for being granted the opportunity to showcase her wares, as well as the hope for an established retailer to stock her brand.
An alumnas of the South African Wine Academy who described herself as possessing the passion for grapes and the cultivation thereof, Ngubombini’s stall displayed five offerings, viz Chadonnay, MMC Cape Classic Brut, 2018 MMC Pinot Noir, Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon.
A boutique producer, Petto Wines are described as rich and full-bodied with strong tannic structure and prominent berry and black currant flavours.
Another brand which proved popular with visitors was Aslina. Started by rural KwaZulu-Natal raised Ntsiki Biyela in 2016, it offered a range of reds and whites – with some bearing nicknames referencing the proprietor’s background. For instance, a range named Ndubs comprising of a red, rose and a white, is said – according to a brochure – to had been inspired by childhood memories and the comfort of family.
Resonating with what the initiators of the expo aim for in bringing emerging producers to the fore, Biyela’s biography is that of a woman from Zululand (as stated in a brochure) who embarked on a life changing journey to the Cape Winelands.
Hers wasn’t an overnight arrival though as she had to spend thirteen years working for the Stellenbosch-based Stellekaya Wines – after graduating from Stellenbosch University in 2003 as one of the very first black female winemakers – before starting Aslina.
Unlike some black wine brand owners who present their entities as having been fully produced by themselves from viticulture, vinification and onto bottling and packaging – Biyela’s approach to winemaking is a hands-on process, with the exception being the purchasing of grapes from suppliers. Currently utilizing others’ wine cellars for blending, she plans on acquiring her own cellar.
Biyela’s journey, along with those of other mostly female exhibitors, is one of determination, resilience and celebration acknowledged in an accompanying media release – probably vindicating why the founders of the platform deemed it necessary to provide it.
A rendezvous which yearly introduces connoisseurs and consumers to local brands, the expo was launched in 2022 in partnership with the SA Wine Industry Transformation Unit to showcase and empower black-owned wine brands.
According to press release, The Proudly South African Local Wine Expo welcomed approximately 3,000 visitors over three days, while this year’s event also shone a spotlight on the growing influence of women in the sector, with 83% of participating exhibitors being female-owned businesses or founded by women.
The expo brought together 29 established and emerging local winemakers, alongside buyers from the retail, hospitality and liquor industries, creating valuable opportunities for market access, partnerships and business growth.
Top image Jacob MAWELA (Amanda Ngubombini, the director of Petto Wines limned at her stall at the Proudly South African Local Wine Expo at Prison Break Market in Glenferness, Johannesburg.)
