Here’s a wine that was never intended to be sniffed and swirled while taking notes in order to be enjoyed. Cape Town has a reputation for being snobbish when it comes to wine, but Black Elephant Vintners is having none of that.
Canned wine is not new, but it still raises eyebrows from some wine connoisseurs. But hear me out: you’re packing a picnic on a hot summer’s day, or going hiking in the mountains with just a backpack. Now, it doesn’t get much better than enjoying good wine with friends on an outing, but a wine bottle is not exactly the easiest thing to pack. So, you grab a few cans of Black Elephant Vintners wine and off you go. Plus, if you’re planning on just having one serving (you still need to hike back, after all) then you don’t need to open a bottle and potentially let it go to waste.
And, after a personal tasting experience with winemaker Jacques Wentzel, I can put your mind at ease. No quality is being sacrificed. By cutting out the stereotypical yadda-yadda and pretentiousness of the wine industry and dedicating their raw passion to the craft, Black Elephant Vintners successfully created a range of wines with unrivalled character. Wines that appeal to a wide variety of desires, diverse tastes, and extraordinary occasions. Real wine, for real people.
I was unable to make it to Franschhoek but the kind folks at Black Elephant Vintners sent over a few cans and I logged on to chat with winemaker Jacques Wentzel.
What’s more, is that by purchasing their canned wine you contribute to the release of captive elephants in South Africa. They’ve partnered with the Elephant Reintegration Trust (ERT) to rewild elephants. R1 of each can sold will be donated to ERT to assist them in their efforts in reintegrating elephants into their natural habitats after the South African tourism industry permitted elephant-back safari operators in 2002.
‘Our vision is to develop a reserve that is a safe haven for elephants in South Africa, providing a secure wild environment for retired, commercially used elephants from various captive backgrounds, including abused and compromised elephants,’ reads ERT’s website. ‘These elephants will be reintegrated back into the wild where they can live out their remaining years, with dignity, as free elephants; or where necessary receive care and recover from the negative impact of captivity.’
The freshly re-launched cans come in three different varietals – Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé and their signature Red Blend. Available exclusively online, the cans retail for R29.50 each.
Shop online here: bevintners.co.za/shop/
ALSO READ: Cape Town’s Awara is a mouth-watering melting pot of Asian cuisine
