Kumusha is Shona for home. Home is where the heart is. Home is where our roots are, where we long to be. In this post we feature Kumusha Wines, found by Tinashe Nyamudoka, a Zimbabwean based in South Africa and explore on how he came up with a brand of wine that connects us with our homes. 

Many Zimbabweans love their wine, and wine is one of the best things to be invented from the imaginations of man. We found an interesting and inspiring story of wine that is made by a fellow Zimbabwean and we couldn’t help but share it. Not only is it a story of wine, but also a story of travel, and heritage.

The story of Kumusha Wines begins with Tinashe’s experience of working in hotels and restaurants, where he acquired a great deal of experience in procurement, quality control and marketing of wines. This gave him the skills and experience he needed to start up his own wine brand. 

Tinashe sought to come up with a brand of wine which connects with the way of life of the people at home, in Zimbabwe. This would be a wine with a taste which people could identify as they would have been acquainted with the indigenous flavors of fruits and berries which they grew up enjoying. 

This desire to connect people with their homesteads, their roots, and background became the inspiration behind the name Kumusha. Many Zimbabweans grew up going to the rural areas, where they would have experiences of working in the fields, herding cattle and also learning values and traditions from their elders. The Kumusha brand awakens a strong sense of nostalgia of the unforgettable experiences people had whilst growing up.

Tinashe also longed to give people in the diaspora something which they would look at and relate with their background and also connect as a community as they would share stories of where they came from, their experiences, hopes and aspirations. 

There is a lot that a bottle of wine can do to bring people from different walks of life together and end up feeling as if they have known each other for a while.

Kumusha Wines has been growing in popularity, this through hard work and an effective marketing strategy. Tinashe puts the effort to make sure that we all get to know about what he’s making. From the vineyards of the Cape, to the glass bottle, Kumusha Wines now find their way into Zimbabwe, where they become a part of our household. This acceptance of the product is something  which definitely has made the founder and maker of the product proud, and satisfied in as much he keeps dreaming for more.

Whilst conversing with Tinashe, he raised an idea on the importance of our rural areas. Generally, we think of rural areas as places of farming, but they also posses tourism potential. Globally, rural tourism is growing in popularity, and its something which we must all explore. We challenge you to make it a point to visit your homestead, find our stories about it, look for the outstanding features, and beauty of your rural area and share with others. Think of it, your favorite destination in Zimbabwe is located in someone’s rural area. 

He also mentioned the importance of upholding our culture and values. At a time where everyone is trying to make a living in the city, we no longer have time to learn from our elders in the rural areas. As we visit our homesteads, it’s also an opportunity to keep ourselves conscious of that which makes us, the values, the traditions and beliefs which we were brought up in and these help us to be a good part of the community.

Wine is definitely a beautiful part of a travel and dining experience. Kumusha Wines are available locally mainly at Liquor Supplies outlets which are found across the country. There are independent distributors and restaurants which stock them too, so why not grab yourself one bottle, made with great skill as well as the love and pride of being Zimbabwean? 

Here’s one fun fact; Tinashe Nyamudoka met one of the world’s best football managers, and current Liverpool coach, Jurgen Klopp, and he left his signature on a bottle of Kumusha Wine. What a world class endorsement, and it only points to the great future which lies ahead! 

Remember when you buy wine, you are not just buying a drink. You are buying a story, immersing yourself into it and becoming part of it. You are assured of a story of quality, taste and greatness. Fill up your glass, go ahead and enjoy. 

Tips on enjoying wine:

1. Get the best brand. Make sure it’s something you know and love, or something someone you trust has recommended.
2. Drink from fine, clean glassware. A glass does a lot to the experience of having your wine, so make sure you choose the best glass.
3. Sip, sniff, and swirl it. Taste it, enjoy its aroma, and swirl the glass to enjoy the sparkles your wine makes.
4. Have it with some good company. Drink your wine with your favorite people, colleagues and have a chat as you drink. Some great chat and laughter will make a huge difference.

#TravelZimbabwe