South African Wine Festival Charms Kampala

Photos by Solomon Oleny

It blinds bitter enemies turning them into best of friends, at least for a while. Even better, it brings perfect strangers under one roof, turning them into family, one sip at a time.

That's exactly what happened yesterday at the sixth edition of the South African Wine Festival at Serena Hotel.

Celebrated annually, the event prides in the fact that winemaking is an art, just like cooking. In view of that, it bonds over 300 Ugandan wine lovers and close to 20 wine personalities from South Africa.

At the event, the former meet these experts, learn the story of their wines, and experience the skillful harmony of fine wine while listening to soulful music.

Typically, most of these experts are from powerhouse families or companies that have been in the industry for over 50years, some 300 years. Such include Hoopenburg Wines, Marianne Wine Estate, Black Elephant Vinters and Co., Aaldering, KWV SA, Spier Wines among others.

However, there are also those infant firms that have been around for less than 20 years. Despite this brief background though, they have mastered the art of producing enchanting products that set the nerves on fire.

One such is Malmsey Rangaka, an indigenous black South African behind M'HUDI wine. This 45 year old ex-Physiatrist fell in love with the inviting lips of a wine bottle—from the first time she tasted it in her teenage years. Before she knew it, she had divorced her profession for wine making. She hasn't looked back.

While presiding over this year's edition, Maj. Gen(Rtd) Mollo Lekoa Solomon, South African High Commissioner to Uganda highlighted—that since the start of the festival in 2010, trade networks have been expanded between Uganda and South Africa. This has played a pivotal role in facilitating bilateral tours.

"It is no wonder that South Africa is quickly rising as Uganda's preferred foreign holiday destination just like Kenya." he delighted at the event that was jointly organized by South African Tourism, South African Airways, Wines of South Africa and Stanbic Bank Uganda.

Currently it (South Africa) attracts over 300,000 Ugandans. These are a mix of outright holidaymakers and business tourists in pursuit of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE).

According to Yogi Biriggwa, Country Manager Uganda South African Airways, this growth has prompted South African Airways—to sustain the 32 weekly flights between Entebbe Airport and South Africa's O.R Tambo Airport.

They will also operate a Cargo freighter once a week. The service ensures timely delivery of Ugandan goods to South African clientele and vice versa.

Beyond promoting wine tourism to South Africa, the Wine festival further strives at empowering Ugandan business personalities in the tourism and wine industry.

"To achieve this, it organizes annual weeklong familiarization trips for a team of 10 Uganda Women Executives to South Africa's vibrant melting pots for Tourism and Wine." says Bontle Madiba, a senior Administrator with South African Tourism, the chief sponsor of the event.

Ukkonika Prudence, one of the participants of this year's edition as held in Cape Town in late September, says that during such trips; delegates are nourished with knowledge needed in fueling their rise into continental brands.

Ukkonika is the Prodigy behind Bella Wine, one of Uganda's most flourishing wine companies.