A WHITTLESEA produced wine, Inkosi Fine Wine, has been officially launched and can be purchased at Pick n Pay stores around the province.
Mayime Primary Agricultural cooperative established a wine grape enterprise in 2012 planting five hectares of grapes at the Shiloh Irrigation Scheme in Whittlesea. This community project falls under the Chris Hani Development Agency’s social development programme, in partnership with FarmVision.
Chris Hani Development Agency CEO, Thukela Mashologu, said Inkosi Fine Wine, which received its licence two weeks ago, was registered as the first community-produced wine in South Africa.
“We are here to announce to the community of the Chris Hani District that our local wine has officially hit the shelves and ask for public support for the project to grow,” said Mashologu. He added that the project seeks to contribute greatly in agritourism with the project planning to embark on a huge campaign to introduce the wine to the market.
Mayime Primary Agricultural Cooperative chairperson, Selborne Cecane, said they wanted to invest in a project that would provide employment opportunities for residents in the area.
“We have employed 35 people in our vineyard and we believe that the number will grow as soon as we develop our own winery.
“The wine is currently bottled and processed in the Western Cape. The Independent Development Trust (IDT) has put aside R3.5 million to assist,” said Cecane, adding that they were already in talks with potential international buyers from China and Russia.
Member of the Mayime Primary Agricultural Cooperative board of directors, Mthuthuzeli Mtshiselwa, said the project had employed 105 people during harvest in one day.
The wine comes in three varieties, Pinotage, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.– ZINTLE BOBELO
