Counting down to 11th wine fest

The massive annual hospitality, food and wine festival is here.

The event will showcase an impressive array of wines that will tantalise Oenophiles’ taste buds and transport them to vineyards around the globe.

The 11^th edition of the annual was launched in 2013 and is one of the Lesotho’s hallmark events. The festivities will begin with an exclusive “Oysters and Bubbles” event at Maseru Club on Independence Day tomorrow (Fri), followed by the main festival on Saturday.

Organised by Station Offsales (Ha Frank) in partnership with FNB Lesotho, the Lesotho Wine Festival has been providing wine enthusiasts with a world-class tasting experience since its inception in 2013.

In an interview with theReporter, the organiser of Lesotho Wine Festival, Paulo de Freitas, said this year’s festival will feature 40 wine producers and a selection of 160 wines, coinciding with the celebration of Lesotho’s 200^th anniversary of the Basotho nation.

“We are going to have a special launch of Sani Wines for the bicentenary which we feel strong about. Sani Wines is the only wine farm in Lesotho, the vineyards are located in the lowlands area to the south east of Maseru.

“It is the highest farm wine in Africa and we strongly support it in a sense that we feel they are pioneering projects especially when we consider the harsh conditions that it takes to grow grapes in Lesotho at the altitudes that they have. The challenges that they have is frost, its adverse with the conditions such as global warming,” he observed.

In terms of what to look forward again, Freitas said this is the first year doing a two-day event such as the special edition to introduce the ‘Oysters and Bubbles’ event on Friday of Independence Day. There will be access to 10 wine producers, branded wine glasses, and sparkling wine and rosé.

It will also be a very limited event whereby it will only accommodate 300 guests. “The aim is to give them more opportunity for comfortable sitting to meet all the wine makers that could be coming through,” Freitas noted.

Apart from that, performances will be headlined by American House music muso, Harrison Crump, with the locals also billed to showcase their skills.

Attendees will be treated to a variety of gourmet-style oyster dishes alongside a large selection of hand-picked wines. Guests will also enjoy performances by both local and international artists, browse craft stalls, and sample premium craft gins and beers.

“This is the 11^th edition of the event, and it has grown into a premier hospitality showcase. We are bringing together 40 wine producers from South Africa, Italy, Chile, Portugal, Spain, and France. It’s the biggest wine event not only in Lesotho but also in the region, attracting people from Angola, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, and beyond.

“The festival’s VIP experience will be enhanced by a partnership with RGBC, offering premium products like Moet & Chandon, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, and Hendrick’s Gin.

“Each guest will have the opportunity to taste 160 premium wines and spirits. The Lesotho Wine Festival is an annual highlight, showcasing exclusive products to both local and international guests,” Freitas added.

He expressed his gratitude to FNB Lesotho for sponsoring the festival, which enables the team to deliver a remarkable experience for Basotho, offering them a chance to sample high-quality wines and other premium beverages.

There will be live performances from Naleli Mohapi, Ntlaks the Journey, Ebonics, John Tšenoli, Smoke Mosi, Harrison Crump from the USA, and DJ Sander from the UK.

In addition to fine wines and live music, the festival will feature gourmet meals prepared by renowned Basotho chefs, including celebrated Chef Jobo Monaheng.

“Guests can enjoy a variety of oysters, seafood, and sushi prepared in exciting styles. Wines like Graham Beck, Sleenbury, Simonsig, Pierre Jourdan, and Krone, along with champagne, prosecco, and pet-nat, will be available.”

 “The Lesotho Wine Festival attracts visitors from across the globe, and I am proud of the tourism and economic impact it has. This year, we will create 200 jobs for the youth in Maseru,” Freitas said.

The festival will also highlight local craftsmanship, with 20 Basotho artisans showcasing their work in the crafts and arts section.

 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 Offsales, 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,” Freitas stated.