Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized. It is widely known and said, pairing wine and food is like two beautiful harmonizing voices, creating a blend that outshines either of the individual deliveries.
Wine production and consumption have witnessed rapid development in the past few decades, which has resulted in its increased consumption pattern. A recent report from Fortune Business Insights projected that the global wine market size was USD 339.53 billion in 2020. The market is projected to grow from USD 340.23 billion in 2021 to USD 456.76 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 4.30% in the 2021-2028 period.
Trademark Hotel, located within Village Market Shopping mall in the Kenyan capital’s diplomatic district, recently hosted an exclusive intimate American wines and bourbon/ whiskey experience which was attended by two special guests, United States Deputy Agriculture Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh and Daniel Whitley, the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The two high ranking officials from the US have been in the country leading a high powered delegation on an agribusiness trade mission to Nairobi, Kenya, and Zanzibar, and Tanzania.
The event celebrating American wine week in Kenya, was held at Harvest Restaurant, which prides itself as a restaurant that is inspired by a Kenyan’s true love for meat, and focuses on farm fresh ingredients carefully paired together to take you on a true culinary journey.
The chef prepared a 3-course meal with each paired with different wine selections including Leleshwa wines, which is Kenya’s premiere winery.
The group later proceeded to Hero restaurant, for a bourbon whiskey tasting. Hero is ranked 70th in the extension list for The World’s 50 Best Bars for 2021.
During their week-long trade mission, the visiting U.S. Govt officials from the Biden administration met with potential importers, processors, and distributors from Kenya and Tanzania, as well as other East African nations, to establish trade relationships and expand opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports.
Today, the U.S. is the fourth largest wine producer in the world, behind the “Big Three” of Italy, France, and Spain. It is the state of Carlifonia that accounts for around 85 percent of national output. This volume – 685 million US gallons (2.6 billion liters) in 2018 – is about nine times more than the combined total of the next three: Washington, Oregon and New York.
Experienced Wine Consultant, Victoria Mulu-Munywoki – Founder & CEO of Cellar 254 shared with the guests the trajectory of the wine culture in Kenya. She guided them through a succinct educative session on the science of taste: how to evaluate wine systematically and she shared tips on successfully pairing wine with food. Her three important take away notes were:
Wine is grown in all 50 states of America with California being the biggest producer of them all. There is a type and style available for every palate. Explore and discover your favorite American wine.
Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa are some of the food friendly wines enjoying undisputable success in the Kenyan market. They pair very well with local dishes too.
Innovation is deeply rooted in the American Wine industry and Bourbon Barrel-aged wine is trending wildly. The bolder, richer and intensely flavoured wines resulting from the unique aging process has a wide global appeal and continues to excite consumers who love both bourbon and wine. I encourage all demographics to try this style of wine.
