Photos Supplied.
Khulu Fine Wine, a luxury private range by Mzansi Craft Wine (MCW) and the brainchild of Kwanele Nyawo and her business partner, aims to deliver exceptional quality wines from various wine-producing regions in South Africa.
Their flagship range – Dumakude (“famous in far places”), Izigidi (“millions”) and Inala (“an abundance of wealth”) – is their pride and joy. “We named our initial range after certain things that are considered great in isiZulu, which is fitting as the name Khulu means “great” in isiZulu. Dumakude, Izigidi and Inala are all red wines that are part of our initial product offering.”
For the founders of Khulu, it is imperative to include and empower the next generation of winemakers from previously disadvantaged communities – especially women.
“We want to create a platform where we can groom the next generation of winemakers. In my experience I have not encountered a lot of winemakers of colour and that needs to change,” Nyawo said.

“We still have a long way to go. I have seen a few women of colour [winemakers], but not nearly enough as I would like to see. We are definitely underrepresented.”
The MCW platform also serves as a launch lab for young winemakers, which will assist up-and-coming winemakers to launch their brands and receive mentorship.
“We are still working on the finer details of how the launch lab will work, and have been speaking to our seasoned winemakers, many of whom have confirmed that they would like to be part of this initiative. We need to finalise the selection process of our candidates before we can start the implementation process,” Nyawo said.
Khulu Fine Wine recently took their first batch of luxury wines to market at a launch event, and the excitement was palpable.
“Simply put, it was the best night of my life. We arranged an intimate evening at one of our favourite hotels in Johannesburg. This was the first time we were introducing Khulu Fine Wine to the market – it was very nerve-racking! Fortunately, we had an amazing audience present who were very receptive to our wine and hosting style. The evening went on for three hours longer than we had planned.”
And what advice would she give aspiring winemakers of colour?
“Go for it! It’s either going to work out or it won’t; there’s no in-between.”
Quick-fire Q&A
What is your favourite varietal and why?
It would have to be Shiraz. Over the last few months I’ve been tasting a lot of red wines and the Shiraz keeps standing out – even in blind tastings. I love its bold, rich and intense flavour.
If you could have the ultimate wine-and-food pairing, what would that be?
Since springtime is around the corner, I would love some white wine paired with different types of seafood. Maybe somewhere near the coast, feet in the sand with a glass of chilled Chardonnay.
If you could sit down for a wine tasting with anyone – whether they’re still alive or no longer with us – who would that be and why?
It would definitely be with Oprah Winfrey. I could pretend to be Gail for the duration of the tasting.
The wines are available to order via their waiting list. Visit their website for more information.