 Signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a new law on wine labels could see all champagne wine makers exporting to Russia print the word ‘Sparkling wine’ on all back labels depriving them from using the prestigious ‘Champaigne’ name.
Distraught leaders of the Comité Champagne said it was ‘scandalous’ that Russia’s new label law forbid them from using the translation ‘shampanskoye’ on the back of bottles. According to Decanter.com, Moët Hennessy Russia informed its sales partners about the evolution of local legislation regarding the addition of the term “sparkling wine” to Champagne labels. Further to this, temporary suspension of deliveries resulted in regards to the new regulation. Champagne already enjoys protected name status in the EU and several non-EU countries, and the Comité Champagne has a track record of strongly defending its producers from any possible infringement. French foreign trade minister Franck Riester said on Twitter that he was keeping track of the new Russian law and its possible implications. ‘Let there be no doubt: we will unfailingly support our producers and French excellence,’ he added.  Navigating through the notoriously vast terrain of wine is now becoming easier, convenient and accessible thanks to an emerging and vibrant wine tasting culture in Kenya. These events, generally open to the public usually involve a day or afternoon well spent more preferably in an outside setting (coupled with good weather), laid back vibes, music and a certified sommelier on the mic taking you through various wines on showcase. In a previous article, we described a particular experience encountered at Wine life Kenya where we got to test and experiment Caitlin Moore‘s research paper, a unique study that looked into experimental marketing used in wine tastings. In summary, an invitation to such an intimate event heavily influenced buying decisions when it came to whole bottle purchases while at the same time built upon relationships that encouraged recurrent buying.  But what about the exclusive tastings….the ones you never see anywhere on social media? There is something special about those. These type of events are sprouting from the shadows for wine lovers and enthusiasts alike especially now that we all have regained the option of eating out at restaurants, again. Private Tastings: They are almost always conducted in the presence of between 5 – 10 guests; some maybe slightly more. During these intimate sessions you will often see curated flights of wine and thoughtfully displayed paired bitings. The wine expert (s) will usually be the one to invite you at the door guiding you to your designated seat. We recount a recent trip to The Wine Box Dion tucked in the upmarket Karen suburbs on an invite-only tasting for about 10 guests and the experience was breathtaking. With a total of 6 new wine entrants in the market, you could think its all about the wine but you soon realise that its all about the interaction, stories behind the reflections of wine travel, fun, games all the while as you try different pairings and much more. Renowned sommelier Sam Ndichu was our host for the night- he delicately introduced each wine with a juicy tale- “Thats what wine is all about, the stories beyond,” he reiterated.  Another added experience you may encounter especially in the more established restaurants such as The Wine Shop Kenya is a private dinner setup. These meals are intentionally crafted to present the art of food and wine pairing in exquisite expression. Each dinner features a custom, coursed menu with carefully chosen wine pairings. A sommelier (sometimes the owner of the joint) will curate the experience to match your taste and preferences while highlighting unique and interesting wines from around the world. These meals are private and can be booked for groups of 8 to 50 people. A message to Kenyans: Try as much as possible to think outside the box when it comes to hanging out in 2021, expand some of your hangouts and explore wide enough to incorporate these new and exciting ways to enjoy the company of friends and family. There was one particular story of a newly-wed that actually organised a private wine tasting as the afterparty!   With all that’s happening around us – the excessive sanitising and masks literally glued to our faces (ladies we know your not having it here), this may have slightly altered our social interactions altogether. We are now carefully leaning towards carefully planned social-distanced outdoor hangouts like picnics, backyard pool parties, bonfires and of course….safari rally is back! What does this mean for the hustlers’ nation eyeing to make a buck in whatever that is trending? The wine tumbler could have a new home in your backpack, really. You see an outdoor wine glass means you and your crew can conveniently enjoy your preferred wine (or harder stuff) at an arm’s length over the coming months — no matter what kind of post-quarantine hang you’ve got planned.  When we say the word ‘tumbler’, most Kenyans may switch to the red regulars popularised by local musician Mejja; however with different styles made from acrylic glass, hard plastic, unbreakable silicone, and insulated stainless steel, the options for keeping your wine fresh, chilled, and contained are plenty. A ‘healthy’ alternative when outdoors Most of the wine tumblers available in the market are flat-based making it very difficult to tip over when indulging. Over and above that, most are fitted with a lid and a slide-lock, so it’s spill-proof. Generally of you are the cautious type, especially if you are partying somewhere chancy, the seal can ensure no one adds something into your drink. You may want the wine you just got served chilled as it looked from the wine bottle it came from…well, some wine tumblers have a silver coating on the inner side preventing heat transfer just like a normal flask. Check out these amazing designs:    Where to get them
There are many places to get them, mainly abroad like Amazon, Alibaba and the sorts. We also acknowledge some local wine accessories suppliers in Kenya who can get you some of these lovely tumblers such as Wine Gallery Kenya, Cellar Accesories, Vitu Zote, Jumia, Cauldron branding and Purpink shop.  East African Breweries Limited (EABL) recently hosted the top 20 World Class finals bartenders at the Trademark Hotel. The event was hosted to celebrate the Kenyan Diageo World Class finalist, Kelvin Thairu.
The 2021 global finals will take place in Madrid, Spain, and is the first-ever fully virtual event, which will start from the 4th – 8th July, 2021. The 5-day event will be packed with opportunities for people to watch and engage with virtual and interactive experiences. From events to trend-led panels, masterclasses to AR-bars, the entire festival has been re-defined to adapt to the COVID-19 safety guidelines. Mr. Thairu emerged victorious in a competition with 20 other contestants. He is now among the 55 mixologists globally battling for the coveted title of World Class Bartender of the Year. The competition participants will be streamed live from around the world as they sip, shake and stir their way through a series of unique challenges set to test their bartending skills. The virtual festival will also some host the biggest names in the industry, all contributing to events taking place during the festival. Other than representing Kenya at the Global Finals in Madrid, Kevin will also tour the Ketel One Distillery in Holland. Commenting on the competition, National Advocacy Manager for Kenya, Douglas Duncanson said, “World Class Global Competition has been instrumental in transforming better drinking culture around the world. We are happy that even with the closure of on-trade bars, as Kenya Breweries we are continuously equipping bartenders with necessary life skills and knowledge, while keeping our mixologists community together.” For the past seven years in Kenya, the World Class has supported, trained and inspired over 350,000 bartenders across the globe.  You may recognize some of the names here:
This time, Hollywood wants in on the art of winemaking and they aren’t stopping anytime soon. The list includes famous actors, singers sportsmen/women who majorly partner with renowned wineries and vineyards around the world to launch wine brands that resemble their flashy lifestyle and serve as ultimate luxurious libations. As for the crowded crop of celebrity-branded wines that have made their way to shelves in recent years, a select handful make the cut for being truly worth the hype. You would like to think that top celebrities are too busy to care, that maybe delegating is their thing when it comes to running these prestigious wine ventures. Remember as you drink that wine, you’re buying a famous person and their image and so there may be more to it than it appears. Some interesting facts include Minogue (2.2 million followers on Instagram and Twitter) who sold one million bottles of wine in 2020, many of them to people who have never drunk wine before (Decanter). The Wine Story readers may recall our article which featured Jay-Z’s involvement in Armand de Brignac, a champagne brand which he sold a 50% stake to LVMH earlier this year. Wine enthusiast and writer Ellie Douglas describes the team behind Miraval champagne rose’ as pivotal with Brad Pitt’s directl involvement playing a key role in the success of the brand. Maybe someone should also challenge our Kenyan celebrities to take up a winery (or two) and get their wine brand out there. Below is a short picture round up of some that we think make the cut and are the most celebrated worldwide.
   Nairobi, Lavington, 2nd June 2021: Esteemed French company, Famille Perrin has unveiled a new range of wines in the Kenyan market. In a private function hosted at the Hidden Gem in Lavington, Kenyan wine stakeholders invited to the event got a taste of the new entrants offering positive critic and recommendations on suitable areas that could help drive uptake in the country. The winery that owns several vineyards introduced 8 wine brands including L’Elephant rose, Le Cabanon des Alexandrins, Famille Perrin Cotes Du Rhone Nature Blanc (2020), Famille Perrin Vacqueyras Blanc (2019), Fourmi Rouge Ventoux, Le Cabanon des Alexandrins, Famille Perrin Cotes Du Rhone Nature Rouge (2019) and Famille Perrin Vacqueyras Rouge (2018).  Speaking at the launch, Sommelier Kelvin Wanjira said, “The launch of new French wines in Kenya is a sign that the industry is evolving in complexity. Wine investors should be encouraged to introduce new wines and grow the overall culture.” He also pointed out that in his experience not many Kenyans know about the different varieties of French wines available in the market. Also in the house were representatives from wine proprietors GoHalisi, Galina Kenya, Craft Beer Garden and sommeliers Samuel Ndichu, Beverly Mbaika, Peter Chege and David Wandamu. The new range comes at a time, when the wine wave is exploding in the country. Consumers and wine lovers are looking for quality wine brands they can trust with a reasonable price point relative to their growing palette.   With suppliers and entrepreneurs alike seeking new ways to grab the attention of consumers, boundary-pushing concepts have continued to shake up the wine trade in Kenya. The Wine Story had the opportunity to review some very interesting concepts, ideas and establishments countrywide and there is one in particular that could have potential to catch on.  All the while, notable innovations within the wine industry have mostly been used in the wine making process. From the likes of quirky wine labels, wine in a box, diet wine, wine in a can (previously featured) to ‘wine on tap‘ (we shall look into later) – wine lovers have always been searching of new ways to push the boundaries and innovate. On the other hand, some resellers have also picked up the baton and shown various innovations they can present and sell wine to their beloved customers. This brings us to the folks at The Liqour House (abbreviated as TLH), a dainty liquor supermarket along the busy Kiambu road. With a different outlook to how Kenyans should purchase their favourites, the team believes that the customer experience should be top notch. Speaking to the store’s proprietor Alex Ndungu, he reflected on an intimate family trip to Sydney, Australia where he and his brother Sam Ndungu (SamK) got inspired by what they saw and imagined an iconic ‘H’-shaped building that would stock the best liquor brands in the market and assume an identity of its own. Stretching the idea further, the duo toyed with the idea of adding a bulk purchase wing – a special section dedicated to the type of clientele who wants to restock their private gazebos with a wide range of liquor ranging from cognac to rum, wine to beer. Potential buyers can relax in a cosy lounge as they await order processing. “AT TLH, WE HAVE STOCKED WINES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD; ITALY, ARGENTINA, SPAIN, CHILE, AUSTRALIA,… EVEN GERMANY!” A state of the art elevator has been installed to help move products around the megastore and also accommodate any clients with disability challenges.  When you enter the ‘house’ you will quickly notice that no expense was spaired to achieve a modern elegant interior finish that elevates the entire liquor store to a league of its own. “We were lucky to have Timber world ltd with their splendid craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. Wakati consultants also came on board to wrap the whole project together…,” Alex added. The whole structure comprises 4 main sections, i.e The Cold room, Bulk ordering section, Reserve room and the Tasting lounge. To achieve this dream, a major partner, East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), played a very crucial role as far as the store-within-a-store design concept, actualisation and a unique showcase of its reserve brands portfolio such as Ketel One and Cîroc, Ron Zacapa , Johnnie Walker Super Deluxe range and signature single malt range just to name a few.  The Tasting lounge
With a clear understanding of their target audience, TLH acknowledges that palettes are evolving hence the need to create a distinctive deep-seated space that allows for selected wine and spirits tasting. The room is fitted with cosy furniture matching the occasion with multiple giant screens to display various multimedia. Following a detailed calendar, 3-4 tastings are queued monthly hosted in partnership with leading sommeliers, mixologists and brand ambassadors. Directly below is the reserve room (Connoisseur’s Den); one that appeals to the sophisticated customer seeking a selection of wines and spirits that are unique and high end. In the den, it feels like you stepped into a world class duty-free store in Dubai airport with elegant aisles of alcoholic delights beckoning. With the adoption of creative innovations around the world, it is evident that retailers are thinking outside the box to improve customer experience and stock wide varieties of wines and spirits. Additionally, we now have many alcohol delivering services in Kenya and renowned mobile sommelier apps (Vivino) to help consumers select their products. With so many options, consumers have more opportunities than ever before to experiment, taste-test and find a new favorite beer, wine or liquor.  We often find ourselves with leftover wine sitting in the fridge, pantry or customised homemade cellars; the stuff that’s too good to waste but no longer terrific for drinking. Instead of letting those stoppered bottles go to waste, you could include them to the various spices and ingredients in your kitchen. What happens to wine when you cook it?  One of the main reasons to cook with wine is to add that subtle acidity which brings out the hidden flavors in a dish. Most people prefer splashing wine at the end of the cooking session, usually results in an unpleasant raw-wine taste. The majority of alcohol in wine burns off during the cooking process. The amount that remains in the dish depends on the cooking method and amount of cooking time. Learning how to handle wine and heat, as well as which wines work best in cooking, opens up limitless new cooking possibilities. Although some traces of alcohol may remain in the recipes, they won’t be in a quantity that is harmful especially to children. If you’re cooking for a child under the age of two, leave the alcohol out or replace it with a low-salt stock or unsweetened fruit juice. There are some meals that require just a tiny splash of wine used only for its flavor profile while others are specially made with a full wine embodiment. For instance, Coq au vin is a unique French cuisine with red Burgundy wine as its main ingredient. What about wine vinegar?  The vinegars we all know are made by ‘simply’ fermenting a carbohydrate source into alcohol. To make red wine vinegar, the source (also called the ‘mother’) is added to red wine and the resulting fermentation process converts the alcohol into acetic acid, which gives vinegars their strong aromas. It’s known for its distinctive tangy flavor and is a staple ingredient in Mediterranean cooking. Livingstrong describes the differences between cooking with red wine versus red wine vinegar as being worlds apart especially when it comes to flavor. Red wine vinegar is sometimes used in marinades for highly-flavored grilled meats, such as fajitas, but it makes a poor substitute for red wine to roast beef. RED WINE VINEGAR LACKS THE DEPTH AND SWEETNESS OF RED WINE, AND LEAVES A LINGERING ACIDIC TASTE IN THE MOUTH. White wine vinegar tends to be a bit lighter and more delicate in flavor, which means it won’t pair as well with the likes of red meat. This vinegar is essencially white wine that has been fermented and oxidised into an acid with a lightly fruity flavor. We shall surely cover these two in greater detail in another article but feel free to explore different cooking techniques with them. Now let us cook When choosing the wine, white or red, there is a guiding cardinal rule – If you wouldn’t drink it, do not cook with it. Avoid the high-end wines (unless your a baller and money is not a problem) or the very cheap ones. A bottle around Ksh 1,200 mark should be just fine.  One great meal you could try is Risotto, an Italian rice dish made with white wine as an ingredient. Wines that are dry, crisp, and not aged in oak work best and the chef should mostly consider the level of sweetness and acidity he or she wants to achieve. Pinot Grigio is versatile, so is Sauvignon Blanc and they both make excellent choices when cooking. You see, as you cook off the alcohol and reduce the wine, both will become more pronounced, so you’re best off sticking to dry whites, with a reasonable amount of acidity. Check out this exciting recipe of Risotto here (allrecipes.com). www.allrecipes.com/recipe/85389/gourmet-mushroom-risotto/ Try this red wine dish  Another delicacy for the foodies out there is Short Ribs – Mushroom & Spring Vegies. In this particular dish, it is recommended to marinate the short ribs and vegetables in red wine overnight to make them tender and use the marinade in the braise later on.
The best reds to cook with are medium-bodied but not overly tannic, like Merlot. The tannins in wine become more concentrated as you cook them, so a tannic wine may dry out the dish or cause astringent flavours. Other wines you could consider are fortified wines, such as Sherry and Marsala. Check out the Short Ribs – Mushroom & Spring Vegies recipe here (foodandwine.com). www.foodandwine.com/recipes/short-ribs-mushrooms-and-spring-vegetables  Rémy Martin has announced a collaborative new global campaign with award-winning musical artist, Usher, to celebrate the blending of music and Cognac. Team Up For Excellence – The Film highlights the cultural connection between Cognac and music since 1917 in France, and the two have been synonymous ever since. “Music doesn’t need Cognac to exist, and Cognac doesn’t need Music to exist, but what is beautiful is that they were meant to meet and when they did, they created cultural harmony,” stated Usher. In The Film, Usher narrates a story spanning the decades from the 1920s to the present day, which pays tribute to the multi-cultural connections. From Blues to Hip-Hop, Swing Dancing to Break-Dancing, Usher and Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal travel through decades in France and the US.  In Kenya, renowned Kenyan artist, King Kaka, appeared in the brand’s Team Up For Excellence campaign in 2020 and One Life, Live Them in 2018. These campaigns aim to applaud innovation, passion and commitment to excellence. In 2019, King Kaka made headlines, attending the Cannes Film Festival alongside the House to celebrate the diversity of culture and the coming together of creatives from around the world.
“Rémy Martin has been at the centre of celebration for centuries, and the celebratory nature of Music is synonymous with our history of honouring communities and culture. Acknowledging this collective success has been at the heart of Rémy Martin since 1724,” said Amaury Vinclet, Global Executive Director of Rémy Martin.  It’s like we are sure exactly what we really want. We walk into the shop, especially the big ones, psyked. ‘I want wine and will decide which one when I get there, not a biggie’. When you get to the wine section, it gradually begins to dawn on you, the confusion, anxiety to make a decision quick…in and out like most men do with whisky or gin. Many unknowns habitate these vast shelves and you end up looking around you, desperately timing the nearest attendant to guide you through the stock of wines. Men suffer the most here. Many bottles placed together confuse me!  You see, wine is bottled in a dizzying assortment of differently sized vessels. Not only does each hold a different volume of wine (750ML, 700ML etc.),but they also have varied names derived from stories, legend tales, historical figures and much more. In literal sense there is a bottle for every occasion and it helps to spend some more time in the wine section just to absorb all what’s in front of you. There’s even a cheat sheet for all beginners to cover basic housekeeping rules – something you won’t often find in beers or spirits; it always gets deeper with wine.  The numbers reveal that about 31.4 billion bottles are bought and sold worldwide every year (Market Watch), the equivalent of 36 billion bottles of wine produced worldwide each year (FAO). This certainly does not tell us how exact types of bottles are in actual existence but gives a clear picture of the sheer volume of wine that makes wine consumers go crazy when they go select wine at the store. From a winery’s perspective, this phenomenon somewhat makes sense. They create more brands hoping customer will buy them — supply and demand. Just like any other business, they look at what we are buying from a data standpoint and try to make more brands similar to those we already like. Larger wineries create multiple brands in bulk in an attempt to make money from both the high quality grapes and those of inferior quality. The end result is a flood of wine that we’re uncertain about, but we buy because it’s on display or because it looks like something we know or it simply has a good rating on Vivino app. The Broader Picture  Maybe we can try broaden our wine horizons and just stop getting confused every time we stare at the store shelf. Like taking the bull by its horns, we can voluntarily take a quick trip around the world with guide books and cheat sheets. We can also attend some wine tastings available in your county, connect with sommeliers around town or simply follow industry leaders such as Wine Fundamentals, The Wine Story, WineNjiru Ltd., Domaine Kenya, The Wine Box, Galina Kenya, The Wine shop Kenya… (the list goes on); you will be surprised of the wine knowledge you can learn from these guys.
A little goes a long way with wine education in your journey of becoming less ‘Wine confused’! |
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