03 December 2007 by The Art of Taste CC

Stellenbosch played host to the launch function of an innovative DVD series. Leonard Arangies, founder of the Mzala DVD series, heard about Keith Dudula, the presenter, from a friend who always buys her wine from him.

“Keith is no stranger in wine tasting circles, having worked at Wineplus in Gauteng, and now at Winesense, and his enthusiasm about everything vinous is contagious,” says Leonard. “My idea was to create a wine cousin, somebody who will become a household name, and after meeting Keith, I knew I have found the right person, he was Mzala!”

Mzala means cousin in Xhosa and Zulu.
The DVD collection is made up of fifteen, thirty minute episodes. Ten episodes focus on specific wine varietals (Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Semillon among the whites and Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinotage and Pinot Noir among the reds) and the remaining five on blending, Method Cap Classique, Noble Late Harvest, Port and Brandy. There are also five bonus tracks on every DVD.

The wineries that took part were: Bellingham, Boschendal, Van Loveren, Fairview, Stellenzicht, Zorgvliet, Simonsvlei, Spier, L’Avenir, Flagstone, Bilton, Simonsig, Neethlingshof, JP Bredell and Van Ryn Brandy Cellar.
The story line is in the format of a road trip, where Mzala visits all the participating wineries, and at the end of each day, his wine knowledge and confidence increase.

Other sponsors were American Express® Cards and the Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes. Annareth Jacobs, CEO of the Stellenbosch Wine Route emphasised that they will be using the DVD’s as an educational tool, to create wine awareness under emerging wine drinkers.
“Keith is a great wine ambassador, the kind of personality everyone can relate to,” said Annareth. ”Mzala breaks down the stereotypical snobbish attitude that is often associated with wine. He makes learning more about wine informative, funny and fun.
He asks the questions so many of us are too embarrassed to ask.

This series is for everyone who likes wine but do not understand all the terms that are used”, says Arangies.
“I hope that this series will introduce more people to the magical world of wine, and in the process aid in pushing up our per capita consumption in South Africa, and cultivate a wine culture among everyone in this country. This series should establish a platform of knowledge, to enable the viewer to enrol for a wine course afterwards, it is an appetite wetter. It is also the perfect introduction for restaurant staff to the world of wine,” he continued.

Negotiations are currently in place for distributing the DVD, and the retail price per copy is between R150 and R170.

For more information contact:

Leonard Arangies: 083 227 4054
Keith Dudula: 082 5179031