Dhafana is one of four friends who conquered the odds to make it to the top when it comes to developing tantalising new wines. Their story is laid bare in a new movie, Blind Ambition, which premiered locally in July.
The movie showcases how the four friends, Dhafana, Marlvin Gwese, Tinashe Nyamudoka and Pardon Taguzu, escaped starvation and tyranny in their homeland of Zimbabwe. Driven by relentless optimism, a passion for their craft and a sense of national pride, they form Zimbabwe's first national wine tasting team and set their sights on the coveted title of "World Wine Tasting Championship”.
“To have made it out of Zimbabwe and be able to produce wines that are pleasing to the palate is a dream come true for me and my friends,” said Dhafana. At the same time, being stocked in high-end Pick n Pay stores is an accolade that makes me immensely proud and filled with joy,” says Dhafana, who will be joining guests at the movie screening. Blind Ambition featured at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, won Best Documentary at the Sydney Film Festival and the Audience Award at the San Francisco Film Festival in 2022.
Dhafana and his wife fled political oppression and famine and fought their way to freedom in South Africa in February 2009, showing great resilience during a difficult time. “The couple faced a long and gruelling journey before finally getting to Cape Town,” says Gavin Ievers, head of Liquor and tobacco at Pick n Pay.
Arriving penniless, he worked as a gardener, dishwasher, and finally as a bartender. On his 28th birthday, he tasted wine for the first time, and discovered his passion. He was determined to succeed as a sommelier and threw himself into making himself an expert.
Within a few short years, after developing his skills at top restaurants in Cape Town, Dhafana was appointed to the most prestigious sommelier position in South Africa. As head sommelier at La Colombe, rated the seventh best restaurant in the world at the time, he was exposed to an extensive international audience and his reputation grew apace.
A full-time focus
His palate is now regarded as one of the best in Africa. Encouraged by noted British wine writer, Jancis Robinson OBE MW, and by Michael Fridjhon, South Africa’s leading wine judge, Tongai led a team of Zimbabwean sommeliers in the World Blind Tasting Championships in France in 2017.
“After seven years, I hung up my apron at La Colombe to become a full-time winemaker and co-found the Black Cellar Club, which brings together and inspires talented winemakers, and helps make wine less intimidating, especially to people of colour in South Africa.”
Ievers says: “His wines reflect an exquisite understanding of the unique terroirs available to him in South Africa, and his ability to please the most discerning international palates, earned at the helm of the wines at one of the world’s great restaurants.”
The Tongai wines in the Sommelier Series reflect Dhafana’s love of freedom of expression – freedom that he won the hard way, and now celebrates with his Tongai Freedom Red blend, Tongai Sauvignon Blanc, and Tongai Premium Chardonnay.
Pick n Pay is so confident of Dhafana’s skills it has ordered 100 cases each of the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Freedom Red. The wine retails for between R145 and R165 a bottle.
“We are pleased to be able to support Dhafana while giving our customers a fresh new offering,” continues Ievers. The wines are available at Constantia, V&A Waterfront, On Nicol, and Mall of Africa stores.