By Matṧeliso Phulane
The 10th Annual Wine Festival on October 7 at Maseru Club promises to be a celebration like no other.
It will showcase an impressive array of wines that will tantalise Oenophiles’ taste buds and transport them to vineyards around the globe.
Launched in 2012, the annual wine festival is Lesotho’s premium lifestyle event. The vision behind it is manifold; it provides a platform for producers in the liquor industry to showcase their talent and educate consumers.
One will get to experience the world’s exquisite flavours, enchanting aromas, and unforgettable experiences.
This year’s festival brings together passionate winemakers, esteemed sommeliers, and wine enthusiasts from all walks of life.
The festival is prepared to savor an extraordinary variety of wines, ranging from velvety reds to crisp whites, from renowned vineyards and boutique wineries alike.
The wine tasting is an opportunity for one to swirl, sniff, and sip their way through an exceptional collection of vintages, each with its own captivating story.
In an interview with theReporter, the organiser of Lesotho Wine Festival, Paulo de Freitas, said there will be a selection of more than 100 wines to taste along with gins.
He said the festival is not just about the wines themselves; it is a holistic experience that celebrates the culinary arts, local flavors, and the joy of shared moments.
“This year we have grown up to 40 farms and over 160 plus wines on show. There are new farms coming in this year including Uvamira, Stark Conde, Garmen Stevens, and Cederberg wines as well as new producers from South Africa.
“Apart from that, there will be over 14 different gin suppliers and spirit coming to the festival this year, and eight international wines from Portugal, Spain, and Italy which will be on the show,” De Freitas noted.
He added that there will be delectable bites from their carefully selected food vendors offering seven course meal such as gourmet delicacies that perfectly complement the wines on offer.
Among other independent food vendors will be Mozambiquan peri peri styled foods, local traditional food, Neapolitan pizza, sea food offering and extensive spits ranging from all kinds a gourmet food experience.
“Every ticket holder this year will have an opportunity to choose from the 160 wines on offer at the event.
“Live entertainment will fill the air, creating a vibrant ambiance that amplifies the joy and camaraderie of this special occasion,” De Freitas assured.
De Freitas, who started the first event with a group of friends in the wine industry from Western Cape, took it just as an opportunity for them to visit Lesotho to experience Basotho’s lifestyle.
He explained that the family liquor store, Station Off-Sales, commonly known as Ha Frank, always carries a hype around wine and spirits and its appeal goes beyond the borders to central South Africa.
“We are considered the most looked-up-to wine shop in terms of international wines, the variety of wines and small boutique producers.
“My shop might be small but we create a variety of experiences and a good mixture of not only South African producers, but a lot of international wines as well,” De Freitas said.
Deeply passionate about good wine, De Freitas noted that the show is basically him showcasing a lot of wine producers and the relationships he built throughout the years. He affirmed that the event grew from spirit to spirit, from trying out various different venues in Lesotho looking for the best next option.
“The wine festival would not exist without Ha Frank,” De Freitas boasted, adding: “We sold over 600 VIP tickets three months ago.”
De Freitas is confident that after 10 years hosting the festival Basotho are more receptive to good wines since they get an opportunity to taste 160 wines every year and make up their minds which one tastes good. They can travel all around the word knowing different wines to select from.
“This is a limited event, so if you did not buy a ticket you will not be allowed to do so at the gate because the space that we have at Maseru Club is very small.
“We keep it very limited so that everybody can have an opportunity to experience the hospitality that we are offering. VIP tickets are sold out and there are limited general tickets still available on lesothowine.co.ls “Whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or an enthusiastic newcomer, this celebration of wine, food, gin, and live entertainment promises to be an extraordinary experience you will not want to miss,” he concluded.
