House Of Mandela Launches New Collection of Fair Trade Wines

When beloved South African icon Nelson Mandela died on Dec. 5 at age 95, he left behind a legacy of leadership, tolerance and social activism.

He’s remembered in different ways. One of them is wine.

His daughter Makaziwe and granddaughter Tukwini founded the House of Mandela winery in 2010, and launched their latest selection in the Netherlands on Wednesday.

“As a family we always wanted to tell the story of the House of Mandela,” said Makaziwe to the South African publication Sowetan.

The “Thembu Collection” includes a Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and a Pinotage. The bottles bear a recommended selling point of $7.66. It’s named for the African leader’s Xhosa-speaking tribe.

“It’s not only about my father, but also about where he came from and where our roots are,” she added.

The two originally announced their plan for the venture at Mandela’s 85^th birthday in 2003. By 2010 they had launched their first products, and were featured at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival in New York last year.

Their latest selection is sourced entirely from certified fair trade farms.

“We wanted to work with family-owned wineries because we felt they would understand the value of legacy,” said Tukwini in a recent interview with Ocean Drive, adding that fair salaries and good treatment for workers was equally important.

“The premium goes to the wine farmers for education and housing, but also makes sure they have a decent salary. We felt very strongly about sustainability,” she added.

All House of Mandela grapes are sourced from certified fair trade farms in the wine-rich Western Cape.

South African wine exports are worth more than $3 billion and jumped 26 percent last year. Wineries in South Africa employ more than 400,000 workers.

Also, a portion of the proceeds will be put toward grants for South African students looking to gain experience in the wine industry along with other education, health and alternative energy projects in the country.

This isn’t the only business bearing the name of the well-loved leader.

Other relatives have reportedly sold hats and sweatshirts bearing his image, and two of Mandela’s granddaughters starred in a reality show called “Being Mandela."