KUNYE, meaning “together” in Xhosa, is a new non profit wine brand that celebrates the diversity of the South African landscape.
All profits generated from the KUNYE wine sales will be placed into a scholarship fund to assist people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa to further their knowledge in any aspect of wine education.
It is hoped that, over time, greater professionalism in the wine industry will encourage a broader and more inclusive wine industry for all South Africans, both as an industry and from a consumer perspective.
As for what is inside the bottles, Cassidy Dart, Co-Founder of Kunye Wines completed his Master of Wine thesis on the wines of the Swartland and his long admiration for the region made for an obvious choice. Created to be accessible, yet typical terroir driven examples: a fragrant peppery fynbos infused, medium bodied Syrah; and a Chenin that is textured, apple-skin and guava, slightly tropical yet buttressed with a fresh, ripe acidity.
More so, inside each bottle of Kunye is the hope of diversifying the South African wine landscape – a belief that wine should be more inclusive and appreciated by everyone.
Included with the purchase of any Kunye wine is a complimentary 120 page, design-led, South African focused eBook – an introduction to wine – available to download in both English and Xhosa. His is believed to be the first time in South Africa’s more than 360 year wine history that a wine resource aimed at the public has been available in an indigenous language other than English and Afrikaans. It is hoped, along with the education scholarship, that the eBook will encourage greater interest in wine.
To find out more about Kunye Wines, please visit www.thewinewise.co.za
Kunye Wines may be purchased online and are exclusively available from The Darling Wine Shop, www.darlingwine.co.za. Priced at R135 per bottle. * Wine sales are currently not permitted during Lockdown Level 3 in South Africa.
For comment, contact Cassidy Dart direct via hello@thewinewise.co.za
For Press assistance, contact Ian Manley of ManleySocial Pty Ltd via ian@publicity.co.za or call (+27) (0) 82 826 0456.
ABOUT CASSIDY DART
Cassidy Dart is a Master of Wine, one of 409 globally, and just one of five based in Mainland China. The Master of wine is the most famous and most demanding professional qualification in the world of wine. He holds a Bachelors and Masters degree from Durham and York University in Politics and Political Philosophy before deciding on pursuing a career in the Wine Industry in 2002.
Since 2002, Cassidy has held several roles, most recently as Director of Wine for Pol Roger Champagne in the UK for 11 years, and several wine merchants before that including Berry Brothers and Rudd; the oldest (1698) Wine Merchant in the UK, as well as supplier to the British Royal Family. He decided to move to China in 2019 with his family, where he now consultants for several clients across the globe including British Airways, JD.com, importers, merchants, wineries and select private customers in Asia, US and Europe. He has lectured about wine at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Stanford and is a member of the Chevalier de Tastevin in Burgundy and the Confrerie de Bordeaux d’Edimbourg.
When not thinking about wine, or spending time with his family, Dart is passionate about sport, literature, entrepreneurship, art and travel.
Dart is the 5th South African to pass the Master of Wine since the qualification started in 1953. His family emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1988, but ever since he passed the MW, he has been thinking about giving back to South Africa. Kunye is that project.
