Right wine, Right place

As a wine lover and connaiseur, I have found it very difficult in Kenya, to find a good wine to purchase, despite ardent research. You may find it curious, but I carefully avoid buying wine in supermarkets! The reason, however, is simple: choice is limited, and if you chose at random, you are more than likely to be disappointed when you get home and try it.

There is one supermarket, however, to which I make an exception. The quality of the wines carried by Chandarana supermarkets is surprisingly good, and, furthermore, they also offer a good range of choice. If you are polite and lucky enough to grab a staff member, you may even get an excellent recommendation!

The only other places I look for quality wine in Kenya, are the Gourmet Gallery on Limuru road, and Wine of the World, on the other side of town, where will literally find a large range of wines from all over the world. Finally, there is my latest discovery, New Itallico, which offers a very interesting range of quality Italian wines.

As I said, you must be careful when you shop for wine, as there are very few places where you will find or be given a good recommendation. I have therefore found another solution to enjoying good wine: those excellent establishments where one may go and enjoy wine by glass or by the bottle, in a wonderful atmosphere. In short, Restaurants! These are my favourite places to go. I love the Windsor, because the view is amazing from the terrace, the service truly professional, and the restaurant is welcomingly open to the public, and not restricted to members and guests. The quality of the wine at the Windsor is excellent, which it should be, selected, as it is, by a truly passionate Food and Beverage Manager.

On the way down Limuru road, towards Village Market, one also has the option to stop by the modestly advertised River Café, the small paradise of Nairobi. Although they have a limited wine list, all of the wines on off are actually excellent! Take my lead one of these days, and go enjoy a glass of wine at the River Café, while sampling some of the best international cuisine in Nairobi.

The next recommended stop is actually the Village Market! At the Tribe hotel within, you will find that they have recently launched a large wine list, with some of the best wines anyone can find in Kenya. To top it all, the ambiance and décor there is exceptional. The professional staff are furthermore not inexperienced in wine, and will give you a good recommendation, should you be in doubt.

In Westlands, I may definitely recommend the Tamambo restaurant, which carries a good selection of wine, my favourite of which is a by-the-glass option of what they call Carnivore wine. The staffs are also very happy to guide you in your choice.

Now that you know where to find it, why don’t you take an opportunity to enjoy quality wine, and write to me about it! I would also be grateful for any little spots you know of, where I may go and enjoy some. Until next time, À votre bonne santé!

 

Flavie Camps hails from the very Alps of la belle France! She is a Brand Manager for Roads Into Africa, with over 4 years of experience in the business of wine. Based in Kenya since a year ago, she hopes to see Kenyans’ love and understanding for wine grow into a cultures. The best wine she’s ever sampled? The Chateau Lafite Rotchild 1985.

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