YES WE HAVE A WINERY IN KENYA. WE ARE NEW LATITUDE WINES. (VISUAL READ)
Hey Steemit Friends.
Today I will tell you a story about how one guy overcame everything he knew and built something phenomenal. So there was a guy who lived in Naivasha, Kenya and he loved to travel. Every time he would travel to Europe, his colleagues would give him a wine bottle or two to bring back home (Kenya). They would casually say something like, “This is a gift from my vineyard”.
How can you top that?
They say if you can’t beat them, join them. There is no way he could give a more personal gift. This happened more times than he could count and he somehow wished that he could one day say the same. He hoped that he would one day say, “Hey friend. Here is a wine gift. It is from my own vineyard in Kenya”.
Vines full of fruit ready for ripening
Vines wrapped in nets to keep birds away from the crop.
A wide angle view of part of the farm.
You know Kenya lies smack on the equator. People said that no vines would grow in the equator because vines need a mix of so many things. For example, if you look at the wine farms of South Africa, they do well because they have the air currents that come from the sea in the Southern Hemisphere, the climate, soil and terroir are great. In Kenya, we do not have any strong current influences because we are on the equator.
However, what surprises me is that he decided to go against all odds. He completely ignored naysayers and even people who gave him genuine advice on how this was a bad idea. He planted the first vines in early 90’s as an experiment. Surprisingly, the vines he planted at the Morendat Farm in Naivasha did so well. The farm is at a high altitude area and it is very hot during the day. It also surprisingly gets these air currents that are all good for vines. In fact, they have won awards for their wines. They are now spreading the idea of the “New Latitude Wines”.
The nets are to keep the birds away because birds destroy tons of grapes every year and this can have monumental losses to the winery.
As you can see, the farm workers are busy putting the nets because the grape ripening season is approaching.
Initially, he started making wine just to gift his friends and family. He aimed for 100 bottles a year. He never planned to go commercial. When he saw how amazing the wine was, he decided to go commercial and set up the Leleshwa winery.
I visited the winery and I was awed. I met the winemaker, Emma Nderitu who taught us so much about winemaking. It was so hot and we had umbrellas to shield us as we passed the vine-covered tracts of land. Some of the grape varietals that they had planted were Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz among others.
They had an amazing rose that was a favorite among many. We had a picnic in the middle of the farm to replenish the energy we had lost during the tour. We went to the winery and later had a scrumptious lunch in the fields. Guess what, we saw some Zebras grazing in the horizon. This place is a paradise.
Zooming in on the zebras
They also have cows on the farm and we had some juicy rib eye cooked with wine
We had the Leleshwa Sauvignon Blanc with a light citrusy salad. Light wines should go with light foods. This was the starter. The wine was very easy drinking.
I also had a very interesting lesson. If you plan to do something. Do it. It is a great thing to TRY. The winery wner build something great here simply by believing and DOING.
***
I am such a tomboy and growing up in a family of guys, I just found myself on the tractor.
Thanks to @njoromuts for taking some of the photos here. You can also read his story on the wine farm here.
I also took some photos. See the photo diary below.
These are the people who went for the tour. We were given some hats to shield us from the sun.
I was looking for some ripe grapes down there. I didn't find any sadly.
Toasting to a great day. The Leleshwa rose was such a great wine.
Toasting to wine, great health and good food.
I couldn't just have a glass so I asked for the whole bottle.
Sundowner
After the tour, we had our own sundowner moments. We had some great food and bottomless wine. There was music and people had great conversation. It is funny that before we had wine, we were all strangers but we all left there as friends. This was one of the memorable experiences I have had in a while.
p/s. If you are looking for a place to do a small wedding. This could be it.
This post was beautifully written and beautifully illustrated, and what a wonderful success story it tells. We live in New Mexico -- in the United States -- and there are wine-growers where we live, too. Evidently the decomposed granite soil here is excellent for cultivating vineyards ... and every Labor Day week-end (usually the first week-end of September -- it's the week-end before the first Monday) there is a well-stocked wine festival at a little town about an hour and a half drive from here. So we really enjoyed reading about a counterpart in another part of the world -- one just as unexpected as "wine grapes in the desert."
This excellent post was included in our new curation effort The Magnificent Seven -- a collaborative work by @enchantedspirit and @catweasel. You have received a 100% upvote from each of us to show our appreciation for your post. To see your creation showcased here ... and the fine company you keep ... please visit this link.
We appreciate your support both for our work on this project and for the other creators of exceptional content who make it all possible. (Follow @catweasel to catch our future Magnificent Seven posts. He's really not as annoying as you might think. <--- He always makes me say that.)
This looks very lovely and inviting. I like the pictures of the grape hanging there all looking stunning. There is something about a vineyard that gives one a soothing effect just by looking at it.
Yes. It was such a nice experience. This is also the only winery in Kenya so this was something special.
Make sure you visit one. If you don't drink wine, go there for the views. If you love wine, even better.
Cheers.
I doubt anyone really hates wine :)
I wouldn't miss out on the tractor either; they give the best shots. Great photography you guys @jeanwandimi @njoromuts
haha. True about the tractor. Thanks :)
Wow!
Narrating the story with those beautiful pictures makes it interesting, I wish we have some vines grown in country...Ghana
Thanks . You can be the first to grow. I am sure they would do well there.
Wow finally met a non-nigerian african on steemit. Nice post. Welcome here
Haha yes Nigerians are early adopters and they are on Steemit making moves. :) Thanks so much.
Looks great..like a project submission after completing the research..u covered most of the areas of that beautiful wine-yard and describe beautifully.. @jeanwandimi
Thankyou so much. Cheers!
I'm always amazed how grapes will thrive in all types of regions. I look forward to trying some Kenyan wines one day
Yes I was surprised too. I know you will try some soon hopefully. Looking forward to your wine stories too.
I rarely drink wine. In fact, I am almost teetotal. However, had I been with you on your tour of this wonderful vineyard I would have partaken with you. Especially the rose. I would love to know how it compares with Mateus rose.
If you had as much fun as it looks like I am insanely jealous.
Trust me, I'm a doctor.
I love that you could travel through my posts. To be honest, the Mateus rose is better although they almost have the same flavour profile. Coincidentally, they also have the same pink/salmon colour.
We had so much fun.
Next time you can join us.
I only gave you a 50% upvote initially then @enchantedspirit and I picked your wonderful post for the Magnificent Seven. So I gave you another 100% on this comment. 50% plus 100% equals lessee, um, ah, that much, plus the 100% vote from @enchantedspirit equals I dunno, maybe all we can afford but you are worth more.
Trust me, I'm a doctor.