Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl – these are some of South Africa’s most popular wine route destinations. Here, good wine flows freely, estates greet you with a glass of their best, and locals and tourists gladly oblige. On the contrary, quaffable and sweet varieties are often consumed throughout the Cape Flats, where quality wines are usually elusive, but thanks to Lindile Ndzaba, owner of Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines, the good stuff has found a ‘new home’ in local townships and urban wine bars.
The famed entrepreneur and wine connoisseur tells us about the inspiration behind the brand refresh, Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines’ market expansion abroad, and why Umleqwa ne dombolo paired with their White Blend is undefeated.
“The best way to learn about wine is to drink it… I feel like wine lovers should explore some unsung hero wines, without limits.”
How did Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines come to life?
I was born and bred in Khayelitsha – the largest township in Cape Town, South Africa. I started working in the hospitality industry in 2009, as a dishwasher, and eventually worked my way up to restaurant operations. Through the journey, I crossed paths with a couple of wine sommeliers who introduced me to wine culture.
Wine naturally became one of my interests, but I couldn’t find the same quality in the township that I was exposed to while working with sommeliers. Out of frustration, KFW was born, with the desire to introduce premium wine to my community.
Congrats on the brand refresh! What inspired the new look?
Thank you! From the get-go, I always told myself that I would always leave room for improvement on this wine brand development journey. The new brand look is inspired by the brand’s global expansion. We wanted the brand to resonate with our global consumers, and have an unmistakable look and feel. The team did a great job of capturing the brand’s origins and its youthfulness.
“My advice before anyone ventures into entrepreneurship or the wine industry – always invest in knowledge and build networks.”
Did you encounter any major challenges tapping into the international market, and how did you overcome them?
We’ve always shipped internationally, but we didn’t have much footprint. Our focus now is the US market; we are expanding and hope to grow our footprint there. I have been fortunate enough to work with people who are excited to represent the brand and want to see it succeed.
For many people in Khayelitsha and neighbouring communities, KFW was their introduction to quality wine, do you remember the wine that made you want to become a connoisseur?
Interesting question, most of the wines I first tried were too dry for my liking – I didn’t get the appeal behind them. Thankfully, Landskroon Port was my entry to ‘understanding’ wine because it was sweet and palatable.
You’ve done great collaborations so far, like the canned White Blend made with Tiny Keg, wine tastings at popular local wine bars and more. Any exciting projects lined up?
Absolutely! We just launched our online store and we deliver nationally now. In the next couple of months, we will visit the US for the first time. It’s very exciting for the team to finally go abroad to represent South African wine. Keep an eye on our socials for more exciting projects.
Besides running a wine brand, you’re also involved in community outreach. Tell us about the work KFW has done in the past.
We’ve always wanted to contribute to our underprivileged township through wine. It all started when we collaborated with our customers for a COVID-19 outreach, which was a huge success. It involved feeding schemes and dignity drives, helping where we could.
We would love to be back at it; there are a lot of organisations I work closely with that need help, but unfortunately, the support died a while ago.
People don’t always appreciate lesser-known varietals, but you regularly celebrate them with your offerings – why do you think wine lovers should get to know them better?
Some varietals are less known because they are mostly blended and not celebrated or enjoyed on their own. This is part of the reason I promote them through my brand, especially when I discover a good find in the cellar.
The best way to learn about wine is to drink it. For that reason, I feel like wine lovers should explore some unsung hero wines, without limits.
Portrait image (right) courtesy of Brandon de Kock
Cultivars you find particularly fascinating these days?
Personally, I like my wines expressive and vibrant. I’m fascinated by Sauvignon Blanc, which I’m looking forward to adding to the KFW range.
What excites you about the South African wine industry?
The diversity and freedom. Many upcoming brands in the industry showcase these traits.
You’re somewhat of an expert when it comes to pairings. What are some dishes you enjoy with Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines?
I love pairing heritage dishes with my brand. A local dish I love pairing KFW with is tripe, which is a hearty and rich dish; paired it with a KFW Red Blend, it’s just out of this world! Also, Umleqwa ne dombolo (‘hard body’/wild chicken with dumplings) from Seven Colours Eatery with the KFW White Blend is unreal!
Portrait image (right) courtesy of Brandon de Kock
What’s been the highlight of your wine career thus far?
I have many… having our online store up, expanding to the USA, and our label refresh (after surviving COVID!) have been huge milestones for us.
Advice for people wanting to become an entrepreneur or break into the wine industry?
My advice before anyone ventures into entrepreneurship or the wine industry – always invest in knowledge and build networks. Also, be patient – in the world of business, nothing happens overnight.
Where can people get their hands on Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines and experience tastings?
People can purchase our wine through our online store; we have discounts for members. They can also visit some of our stockists: Seven Colours Eatery, Café Orca, Arthur’s Mini Super, Vine and Dandy, Culture Wine Bar, Openwine, Grub & Vine, Observatory Liquor, Tamboerswinkel, Mama Afrika, Hoghouse Brewing Company, Liquor City Claremont, Wine Concepts Newlands, the Charles café, Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room, Novo Pizza + Wine.
To order KFW, visit Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines’ online shop. Check out their website and socials for exciting updates and collaborations at the links below.
shop.khayelitshasfinestwines.co.za | Facebook | Instagram
