In 2015, the Soweto Wine Festival moved from the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus to Walter Sisulu Square near Kliptown. Wine writer and festival veteran Len Maseko says the move presented a culture shock for the exhibitors, who had complained that the festival was attracting too many binge drinkers who did not care for the specifics of wine tasting.
“Now they have brought in a cultural element, which you see today, in terms of fashion and other things,” says Maseko of the outdoor exhibitors’ section.
“So some of the winemakers weren’t too happy with dilution of the message.