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00:00 – We need your HEEEEELPP!!
01:12 – Why the Thokozani Cabernet Franc deserves a permanent spot in the “great wine” list
02:14 – “Great Wines” should last longer than their slew of public accolades
02:55 – Is LONGEVITY essential to “wine greatness” (or the definition of “fine wine”?)
03:52 – Why the HanDrinksSolo team loves Cabernet Franc
04:42 – Tasting notes for the Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2022
05:34 – Intro to the Thokozani Wine Brand and the people behind it
06:34 – The difference between CHARITY and TRANSFORMATION in South African Wine.
07:03 – Thokozani Wines: The ORIGIN Story
07:36 – FACTS that make Thokozani UNIQUE amongst their peers
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Thokozani Wines is a wine brand that was birthed out of the goodwill of one family towards the community around them. Now, while this is enough to give one a few warm fuzzies, this bit of news is not – in itself – particularly exciting. What IS particularly exciting is that Thokozani no longer requires the aforementioned charity to keep it going.

What was born out of a social upliftment and transformation initiative launched by Diemersfontein Estate owners, the Sonnenberg family, has now become a profitable wine brand with the power to buy a controlling interest (55%) in the Diemersfontein wine brand – the mother brand was which it was launched!

As of 2024, Thokozani Wines, lead by CEO Denise Stubbs, is 100% owned by the 65 employees of Diemersfontein, with a 100% female management team, and a 100% female board of directors, made up exclusively of BIPOC members. Thokozani also owns its own land, and – as mentioned 55% of the Diemersfontein Wine brand.

Perhaps most gratifyingly of all, bleeding-heart wine lovers need not buy Thokozani wines simply because the feel like they should support a good cause, but rather because the quality of many of the wines they produce are quite literally trophy worthy.

In today’s video, we study the success of the Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2022, and dig into the challenges that still face the brand.

If you have yet to sign up for your Monthly HanDrinksSolo Wine Subscription then you’ll have to hunt this wine down in your own time. But until then, here are my tasting notes and some technical specs:

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👃🏼 A supremely classic cabernet franc shnozz. Clearly articulated sweet bell pepper notes, violets, ripe blueberries, blackcurrant preserve, and a touch of fennel.

👄 The palate is incredibly winsome, although perhaps slightly lacking in concentration. The savoury and sweet elements still work beautifully together, and the fine tannins hold everything together with aplomb, but perhaps had it been a little denser it would have been in the same giant killing vein of previous vintages. As it is, Thokozani can be proud to have achieved what they did what was undoubtedly a troublesome vintage.