South Africa Uncorked: A New Dawn of South African Wine
Wine Wednesday Featuring Baobab Wines & Chris Rowe
Wednesday, August 5 | 5:00–7:00 PM
10% Off All Featured Wines During the Tasting
Our Grand European Wine Tour may have come to a close, but our exploration of the world’s great wine regions is just getting started.
We begin the month by headed to one of the most exciting and dynamic wine-producing countries on the planet: South Africa.
Join us as we welcome Chris Rowe of CJR Beverage Solutions for an evening celebrating the remarkable wines of Baobab Wines, an importer dedicated to showcasing the new generation of South African winemakers. From cool coastal vineyards to rugged mountain valleys, South Africa has emerged as one of the world’s most compelling sources of terroir-driven, sustainably farmed wines. Whether you’re already a fan or discovering these wines for the first time, this tasting promises to be an exciting introduction to the country’s vibrant wine culture.
A New Chapter for South African Wine
South Africa’s wine history stretches back more than 350 years, yet today’s wine industry is experiencing one of its most exciting periods of innovation. A new generation of producers has embraced sustainable farming, minimal intervention winemaking, and a renewed focus on indigenous vineyards and distinctive regional identities.
The country’s remarkable geography, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, creates one of the world’s most diverse viticultural landscapes. Cooling maritime breezes, ancient granite and shale soils, and dramatic mountain ranges allow growers to produce wines of exceptional freshness, elegance, and complexity.
Rather than relying solely on international grape varieties, South African winemakers have developed a style that is unmistakably their own, combining Old World restraint with New World energy.
Featured Importer: Baobab Wines
Founded in 2015, Baobab Wines was created with a simple mission: to bring the very best of South African wine to the United States.
Named after Africa’s legendary Baobab Tree, often called “The Tree of Life,” the company celebrates both South Africa’s rich cultural heritage and its exciting future. The Baobab tree has provided shelter, food, and water throughout Africa for thousands of years, making it a fitting symbol for an importer dedicated to supporting sustainable communities and authentic craftsmanship.
Baobab proudly represents a portfolio that is more than 50% Black-owned or Black-led, highlighting a new generation of diverse South African producers alongside some of the country’s most historic family estates. Every winery shares a commitment to sustainable farming, thoughtful viticulture, and minimal-intervention winemaking, allowing each bottle to reflect its vineyard and region with honesty and precision.
Featured Guest: Chris Rowe
CJR Beverage Solutions
Chris Rowe has spent more than twenty-five years helping introduce Colorado wine lovers to some of the world’s finest artisan producers.
After joining Southern Wine & Spirits of Colorado in 2001, Chris served as both Director of Education and Vice President of the Signature Fine Wine Division, where he developed a deep appreciation for family-owned wineries and the people behind them.
In 2005, he joined Old Bridge Cellars, representing a portfolio of fiercely independent wineries from around the world. Over the next two decades, Chris became one of the country’s most respected ambassadors for artisan wine, serving as Division Manager and National Chain Accounts Manager while building lasting relationships with growers, winemakers, and collectors alike.
In 2025, Chris launched CJR Beverage Solutions, a boutique brokerage and marketing company dedicated to representing family-owned wineries and distilleries that craft authentic, regionally expressive wines. His passion for education, storytelling, and connecting people with extraordinary wines makes him the perfect guide for our journey through South Africa.
Featured Wines
2024 Avondale “Jonty’s Ducks” Pekin White, Paarl $23.99 $21.59
2022 Kumusha “The Flame Lily”, Slanghoek $30.99 $27.89
2024 New Dawn “Dark Leap”, Western Cape $25.99 $23.39
2024 Lalela Heritage Red, Wellington $33.99 $30.59
Meet the Producers
Avondale – Paarl
Avondale Estate is one of South Africa’s pioneers in biodynamic and regenerative farming. Their vineyards are managed as a complete ecosystem, where ducks naturally patrol the vines to control pests, inspiring the name “Jonty’s Ducks.” The estate has become internationally recognized for proving that sustainable farming can produce wines of exceptional purity and character.
Kumusha – Slanghoek
Founded by Zimbabwean-born winemaker Tinashe Nyamudoka, Kumusha celebrates African heritage through wines that emphasize elegance, freshness, and authenticity. “Kumusha” means “your home” in Shona, reflecting a philosophy that great wine should bring people together around the table.
New Dawn – Western Cape
New Dawn represents the next generation of South African winemaking, embracing careful vineyard stewardship and thoughtful cellar practices to craft wines that are vibrant, balanced, and expressive of the Western Cape’s remarkable diversity.
Lalela – Wellington
“Lalela” means “listen” in Zulu, encouraging us to slow down and appreciate both the people and places behind every bottle. Produced from sustainably farmed vineyards in Wellington, Lalela also supports educational initiatives that benefit South African youth, making every bottle part of a larger story of community and opportunity.
Discover the New South Africa
South Africa has quietly become one of the wine world’s greatest success stories. These wines offer extraordinary quality, exceptional value, and a unique combination of Old World structure and New World vibrancy.
Whether you’re intrigued by regenerative farming, passionate about discovering new producers, or simply looking for delicious wines that overdeliver, this is a tasting you won’t want to miss.
10% Off All Featured Wines During the Tasting
Explore. Taste. Learn. Meet Chris Rowe and discover the remarkable wines of South Africa.