SOWETO WINE FESTIVAL
From : 01 September 2011 18:00 - Until : 03 September 2011 22:00
Location : Soweto Campus, University of Johannesburg
Website : http://www.sowetowinefestival.co.za/
After its first appearance 7 years ago, the Soweto Wine Festival is one of the fastest growing wine shows in South Africa. Set in the Soweto Campus of the University of Johannesburg, the Soweto Wine Festival aims at promoting a wine and lifestyle culture in the birthplace of South African vibe. With over 950 wines on show and a food court dedicated to Sowetan restaurants, the festival is expected to be a success and to attract over 8000 Sowetans over three days.
This year, Soweto and Jozi wine lovers and curious will be able to taste delicious wines from two local Fairtrade wineries, and end the evening with a sip of Fairtrade coffee from Eastern African small-scale farmers.
The wines participating are:
Thandi Wines
Thandi Wines has set an example for the local and international wine industry by being the first wine operation in the world to achieve Fairtrade certification in 2003. The company was established in 1995 as a BEE project and the name, Thandi, means 'nurturing love' in Xhosa. With its fine wines and great social values, Thandi grew and became the biggest black-owned exporting company in South Africa for wine. It employs 250 farm workers, who own between 50 and 100% of the land over three farms and 55% of Thandi Wines (Pty) Ltd.
Thanks to the sales of Thandi wines internationally and, more recently, in the South African market, the farm workers have realised a variety of projects for the upliftment of their families and communities. The income received through the Fairtrade Premium was mostly used in education projects, such as building a créche for farm workers children, funding the community primary school, and setting up a scholarship fund to sponsor those students that are determined to continue studying at the university. Since last year, the Fairtrade Premium is being saved in order to realise a big dream: the construction of a housing project on municipal land that will be fully owned by the workers. Thandi workers cannot wait to finally own a house!
Thandi Wines is currently available at Pick n Pay, Ultra Liquors and other liquor stores across the country. For more information visit www.thandiwines.com
Place in the Sun
Place in the Sun wines were recently launched in the local market, thus adding a new Fairtrade brand to the growing range of Fairtrade wines available in South African shops. Produced at the Adam Tas cellar with wine grapes from the Fairtrade certified Devon Valley Trust in Stellenbosch, Place in the Sun wines offer three reds and a white - Pinotage, Merlot, Cabernet and Sauvignon blanc - all available for tasting at the Soweto Wine Festival. The wines are currently available in Pick n Pay, Spar, Checkers and other liquor stores nationwide. For more information visit www.placeinthesun.co.za
For more information about all other Fairtrade wines available in South Africa visit our wine product page.
Bean There coffee
Bean There Coffee Company will offer all festival goers a range of delicious coffees that come from East Africa - the birthplace of coffee. Fairtrade certified co-operatives in Ethiopia and Rwanda benefit from the marketing of their superb coffee beans in South Africa and you can read some of their stories in our producers page.
For more information about Bean There visit their website www.beanthere.co.za
Information about the Soweto Wine Festival
Festival times: Thursday 1 September & Friday 2 September from 6pm to 10pm | Saturday 3 September from 5pm to 9pm
Venue: University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus -
Tickets: R100 per person, includes a wine tasting glass and festival guide