041WINE | LELETHU ZONDANI
In our first Xhosa-language article, we celebrate the heritage of the Eastern Cape, where over 80% of the population speaks Xhosa. This column reflects on the deep connection between South African wine and our national heritage. From its beginnings in 1659 to its global acclaim today, the story of local wine is one of resilience, creativity, and renewal. Each glass celebrates triumph over adversity and honours the rich cultural legacy that continues to make South Africa exceptional.
Igilasi nganye ibalisa ibali lempumelelo emva kobunzima kwaye ibhiyozela ilifa elityebileyo elenza uMzantsi Afrika ubalasele.
Kule Heritage Day, sithatha umzuzu wokuhlonipha elinye lamacandelo abalulekileyo kwinkcubeko yethu: iwayini. Ibali lewayini laseMzantsi Afrika laqala ngo-1659, xa kuqatshelwa isivuno sokuqala eKapa phantsi kukaJan van Riebeeck. IKapa yakhawuleza yaduma ngokwenza iwayini ezazinenkangeleko emangalisayo, ingakumbi iConstantia, eyayihonjiswa kwiitafile zobukhosi baseYurophu ngeminyaka ye1800.
Izithintelo zezopolitiko kunye nokutshutshiswa kwezoqoqosho zenza ukuba abavelisi bethu bahlala bodwa, bengena kufikelela kwintengiso yehlabathi okanye ezintsha zophuhliso. Kodwa eli bali lewayini lethu alinakwahlulwa kwimbali yelizwe lethu.
Ngaphantsi kobandlululo, amashishini ewayini aseMzantsi Afrika ayenqunyanyisiwe kakhulu kwimakethi yehlabathi. Izithintelo zezopolitiko kunye nokutshutshiswa kwezoqoqosho zathetha ukuba abavelisi bethu bahlala bodwa, bengekho kufikelela kwintengiso yehlabathi okanye ezintsha zophuhliso. Umgangatho wewayini waye waphucuka neminyaka, kwada kwafika inkululeko ngo-1994 apho amashishini ewayini akwazi ukudibana kwakhona nehlabathi.
Kwalandela ukuvuseleleka: isizukulwana esitsha sabenzi bewayini safika, samkela ulwahlulo, savavanya ngeendlela ezintsha, kwaye sancoma ngovuyo umhlaba waseMzantsi Afrika kwihlabathi lonke.
Kwiminyaka yakutshanje, ukomelela kolu shishino kwavavanywa kwakhona. Ubhubhane weCOVID-19 wabetha nzima, ngothintelo oluninzi lokuthengiswa kotywala ekhaya kunye nemida kurhwebo lwamazwe ngamazwe. Iicellar zaphuphuma, abasebenzi bamafama bajongana nobunzima obukhulu, nabavelisi abasakhasayo abaninzi balwela ukusinda.
Noxa kunjalo, olu xinzelelo luzise izinto ezintsha: intengiso ngqo kubathengi yakhula, amaqonga edijithali adibanisa abenzi bewayini nabaseli kwihlabathi, kwaye kwabakho novuselelo lokuhlonela iwayini zasekhaya phakathi kwabemi boMzantsi Afrika.
Namhlanje, iwayini zaseMzantsi Afrika ziqatshelwa kwihlabathi luphela ngenxa yomgangatho wazo, ulwahlulo lwazo, kunye nendlela ezibonakalisa ngayo indawo ezivela kuyo. Ukusuka eStellenbosch nasePaarl ukuya eSwartland naseHemel-en-Aarde, imidiliya yethu imi njengesikhumbuzo esiphilayo sokomelela kunye nokuqamba okutsha.
Kule Heritage Day, xa sicinga ngezithethe ezisidibanisayo, iwayini ayisoselo kuphela-lilifa eliphilayo lokunyamezela kunye nobuchule. Igilasi nganye ibalisa ibali lempumelelo emva kobunzima kwaye ibhiyozela ilifa elityebileyo elisenza sibe ngamaMzantsi Afrika anedidi.
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