Their African farm

4 Aug 2010

M'hudi Wines, located on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, is reportedly the first wine tourism farm to be wholly owned and managed by an ordinary black South African family, husband and wife team, Diale and Malmsey Rangaka.

(L - R): M'hudi local marketer, Lebogang Rangaka, with her mother, M'hudi CEO and MD Malmsey Rangaka.

A member of Stellenbosch Tourism and Stellenbosch Wine Routes, it offers a wine experience with a personal, distinctly South African touch through wine tours, small events and conferencing, wine workshops and tastings. CEO and MD Malmsey says, "Our aim is to share with our guests a taste of this unique and diverse country in a relaxed, informal environment. Our conference and tasting venue is actually an old tractor shed, which has been transformed into a boutique venue that offers all the necessary facilities without losing the earthiness of its origins - it embodies the essence of what we're about."

The farm derives its name from the Setswana word "Mohudi", meaning "harvester". It is also the name given to the heroine of a great African story penned by South African writer, linguist and politician, Sol Plaatje. In the story, she flees her war-ravaged village in search of a new beginning and is the inspiration behind the family's own story.

Malmsey recently received the 2010 Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which rewards outstanding black tourism entrepreneurs.

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In addition to the wine tourism offering, it has a range of easy-drinking wines with an elegant modern African look, including Pinotage, Merlot and a cool climate Sauvignon Blanc. Current international export destinations include the UK (Marks & Spencer), 42 states in the US and Germany. Locally the wines can be purchased from selected retail and independent stores nationally, including Woolworths from September this year.

For more information go to www.mhudi.com.