Lindile Ndzaba, owner and founder of Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines, first started out in the hospitality industry as a dishwasher and gradually worked his way up to barman and then to management positions.
Lindile’s time working behind some of Cape Town’s best bars is where he was first introduced to the South African wine culture, which is where his knowledge, love and passion for fine wine grew. With more than 10 years of experience in the industry, along with this vast knowledge came intrigue and an awareness of the general lack of exposure of black cultures and communities to the wine culture in South Africa. Seeing an opportunity and gap in the market, Lindile ventured out on his own and started his very own wine label in the township he calls home, Khayelitsha.
Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines is a small local business that is 100% black-owned and focuses on enriching lives one premium bottle of wine at a time. The business strives to foster a wine culture in the streets of Khayelitsha and, in return, share some of the beauty of Khayelitsha and its community with the world.
As a brand, they work directly with winemakers and vineyards, including some big names in the South African wine industry such as The Fledge & Co. and Saxenburg Wine Estate. By working with trustworthy wine farms, Lindile ensures that only a good quality of wine is introduced to Khayelitsha.
Wine lovers in Khayelitsha no longer need to commute to wine farms to enjoy good wine anymore as Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines brings the wine to the community and straight to the hearts of the locals. The unique label can also be found in a number of bars in and around Cape Town.
We caught up with visionary, owner and founder Lindile Ndzaba to discuss community upliftment and big future plans. Here’s what Lindile had to say:
Why did you start this business?
I started KFW out of frustration. Living in the township and not able to find a good quality wine bothered me. I decided to introduce premium wine, create a bridge between passionate winemakers and the townships.
How long has it been in operation?
It’s been three years now.
Who is the target market?
We target the curious and those who are enlightened about the wine culture in South Africa.
What’s the long-term vision?
We are slowly recovering from a huge setback caused by Covid-19. We are lucky that we are still in trade in these uninspiring times for entrepreneurs. We see a sense of supporting small brands from global communities, which helps and keeps us going. The little support we get is encouraging. We hope to establish our cellar in Khayelitsha to host our food and wine pairings. We aim to create a mindful and educational wine platform in the township.
What does Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines mean to its community?
It’s a source of pride and inspiration because we uplift the community in Khayelitsha as well as in the hospitality industry.
What do you love most about wine?
I’m in love with the different expressions of the terroir from all these beautiful regions we are so lucky to have around us in South Africa.