African cuisine finds perfect companion in Lali Wines

As we draw closer to the end of Africa Month, SowetanLIVE reflects on an amazing Africa Day celebration that took place at the Why Cook Studios in Bryanston. 

Attendees were invited to a cooking activation by Brand SA as part of their Play Your Part programme, to celebrate the versatile cuisine from all parts of the continent.  Attendees included reigning Miss SA Lalela Mswani, musician Bonginkosi Dlamini (Zola 7), African enthusiast Adetunji Omo and filmmaker Sara Chitambo.   

The menu that was prepared and consumed by the participants included grilled tilapia, East African-style coconut chicken, instant pot jollof rice, sorghum salad and pan seared steak with a creamy masonja mushroom sauce.  And what better way to enjoy the best food on the continent than to serve the dishes with a home-grown wine?

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Lali Wines is the brainchild of Lali Seane from GaRankuwa in Pretoria. Seane presented her wines at the event and also elaborated on why she started her brand. 

“Simply put it’s a passion. I enjoy wine, I love wine,” she said.

Lali Wines is a young brand, it was established in December 2021, and the wine is perfect for new wine drinkers and those people who prefer a smooth, light drink. The tagline of the wine brand is Life is Simple, though this doesn’t mean that the offering is a simple wine.

“We pride ourselves on the simplicity and elegance [of the wine], a lot of work has gone into the brand and the labelling,” Seane said.

Seane said she was named after her paternal grandmother and never knew what it meant. She said that later in life she was encouraged to learn about a Xhosa word ilali, which means village.  She also found out that in Fijian the word lali means drum, a drum that is used in villages to make major announcements. And serendipitously her flagship red is bottled in a bottle that is shaped like a drum.

Her name also exists in Greece, where Lali is a girls' name meaning "outspoken".

It was a joy to find wines that are friendly to the palate. Lali Wines are destined to win followers among new wine drinkers and those who prefer lighter alcohol.