“I’ve had the deep, dark mocha-flavoured Pinotages, the smoky, gamey, wildly ripe ones, even the lighter, juicy blue-fruited ones. But before last week, I had not had, despite ample assurance that they existed, a Pinotage that provided the ethereal mossy, mulchy earthiness of Pinot Noir and combined it with delicate sweet cherry fruit. This wine managed to feel sprightly despite its concentrated flavour and the tannins were beautifully supple. While the acidity wasn’t particularly notable, the wine kept a light, lithe freshness all the way through the finish – where a lick of smoky gaminess and a wild spice denoted that it was not, in fact, Pinot Noir. With chilli-laced East African-style fish stew and yellow rice the wine sang; with crispy carnitas and posole it thrummed a merry cherry tune. Intrigued, I began researching the man and vines that created it….”

She makes good use of her freedom to experiment in the cellar and wants to look at new ways to reduce the amount of waste and packaging produced by the wine industry.

“I’m proud to see how far I’ve come and how much I’ve learnt,” she says. “I started making wine when I was 21 and also doing the marketing, so I was always about 15 years younger than most people around me. That could be very intimidating. I was also not great at speaking in front of a large crowd, but now I can confidently do it without even rehearsing because I’m speaking about something I love.”

If you missed the Hella Chenin Wine Fest in Berkeley this past May 3, you missed a jolly good show. Actually, barely 400 Chenin Blanc lovers attended this combination seminar/walk-around tasting. There probably could have been more, but according to Peter Andrews, the primary organizer of this inaugural affair, paid tickets were capped off at 350 because, as he put it, “We wanted to make sure we have a controlled crowd and nothing goes wrong, and there can be more Hella Chenins… not just here, maybe also in South Africa!”

Andrews is the founder of Culture Wine Co., specializing in South Africa imports representing in the latest artisanal styles of wines coming out of that country, where the wine industry dates back to 1659. These, of course, are fraught times for small import companies of any sort. Let’s hope this is the first of many Hella Chenins, not a last hurrah.

The event was sponsored in part by the South African importer Culture Wine Co (which may account for why, ahem, no Loire wines were featured). Culture is making the rounds, touring with its South African producers at other California locations (May 5, 6 and 7 in SF, Napa and SF respectively).

Chenin Blanc wines are also very affordable, as well as rare, so this may be two big factors in its widespread appeal within a cult following. Plus it makes excellent wines.

South Africa is the world’s largest producer of Chenin Blanc – and they’re also known for Rhône varieties – while the wines that Peter poured here featured a wider diversity of the country’s wines. He also set out on his table small stones from the vineyards for each of the wines he poured to show the variety of soil and rock types.

“U.S. small businesses are struggling with surging costs, supply-chain disruptions, and uncertainty as President trump’s new tariffs hit a wide range of imported goods—forcing owners to absorb higher expenses, renegotiate contracts, or pass the burden onto consumers.”

Foreign wine prices in the U.S. are set to surge under Trump’s new tariffs—20% on EU bottles, 10% on others—with South African wines facing 30%, squeezing small importers and reducing choices while domestic producers may benefit.

In this CGTN interview, Culture Wine Co.’s founder Peter Andrews explains how new U.S. wine tariffs are squeezing importers and producers—forcing price hikes, strategic rerouting, and efficiency boosts—to manage the disruption.

Peter Andrews launched Culture Wine Co. in 2023 after a life-changing trip to South Africa, where he met 50+ winemakers and tasted hundreds of wines across 1,500 km.  With a 15-year career in the U.S. wine trade and credentials including a WSET Diploma and MBA, he built his business to import, wholesale, and sell directly to consumers in 44 states—cutting out the typical distributor tier to better share South African wine stories

Wineland Media (South Africa): From Inspiration to Innovation

After tasting 500+ wines across South Africa, Peter Andrews launched Culture Wine Co. to shake up U.S. wine buying. Discover how he’s championing diverse, sustainable producers and redefining what Americans expect from South African wine.

A lineup of finely balanced whites and pét-nats—highlighted by a crisp Viognier, elegant California sparkling blends, and a striking Swartland Sauvignon Blanc from a 1965 organic vineyard—each scoring between 8.5 – 9.5.

Peter Andrews founded Culture Wine Co. to spotlight South Africa’s dynamic, sustainable winemaking scene. Discover how his curated imports are reshaping U.S. wine culture.

The Culture Wine Club, curated by Culture Wine Co., offers a unique subscription experience focused on South African wines. Each month, members receive two bottles of organic, minimal-intervention wines, with an emphasis on low-ABV, mineral-driven selections. The club is dedicated to showcasing wines produced by BIPOC and women, amplifying their voices and contributions within the industry. The monthly subscription is priced at $79, including shipping, and members receive a 10% discount on additional purchases from the wine shop. The club also offers flexibility, allowing members to pause or skip deliveries at any time without extra charge.