Sparkling Chenin Blanc, naturally sweet red wine and coffee-inspired Pinotage are among the new wine offerings entering Kenya as producers seek to cater to consumers with different tastes in a growing market.
South African wine producer Boland Cellar unveiled the products in Nairobi, alongside its One Formation range and refreshed labels for selected wines in its portfolio.
The new offerings include Cappupino Pinotage, with roasted coffee and chocolate notes, and Expresso Pinotage, packaged in a can. The producer also introduced a Chenin Blanc sparkling wine and a naturally sweet red positioned in the premium segment.
The additions come as Kenya’s wine market expands. According to Euromonitor International, the market grew by three per cent in volume in 2025, reaching 29.3 million litres.
The new products offer different expressions of wine, including alternative packaging and flavour profiles, as producers seek to serve consumers across various price points and preferences.
Pinotage, a red grape variety associated with South Africa, features prominently in the new range. Boland Cellar’s Sixty-40 red blend, made from 60 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 40 per cent Shiraz, remains its best-selling wine in Kenya, according to Christopher Burger, the producer’s national and international sales manager.
Burger said the company was targeting sales growth of at least 15 per cent over the next year, supported by a marketing and sales strategy developed with Domaine Kenya Limited, its exclusive importer and distributor in the country.
“Our focus is to offer wines across different tiers of the market while maintaining quality and value for money,” Burger said. “We want to build on the foundation already established in Kenya and achieve sustainable growth over the coming years.”
Jebet Chemng’orem, managing director of Domaine Kenya, said consumers should be encouraged to explore different wines rather than assume there was one style suited to everyone.
“Boland produces wines that respect the Kenyan palate while maintaining high winemaking standards. The quality and value for money are important to us, but so is the relationship we have built with the producer,” she said.
Chemng’orem recommended Boland Cellar’s Chardonnay for its freshness and versatility. She also compared the smoky, toasted character of its Pinotage to mursik, the traditional fermented milk drink.
Sylvia Wambui Karanja, founder of S & S Atelier Co. and East Africa country lead for Wines of South Africa, said successful market entry required more than simply introducing a product to a country.
“It means supporting the brand reach the right trade partners and consumers, in the right settings, with a clear understanding of who is most likely to choose it,” she said.
Domaine Kenya chairman and founder Paul Chemng’orem said his relationship with Boland Cellar had developed over about two decades, with orders growing from one 40-foot container to more than 359 containers.
The partners plan to focus on distribution and market awareness as they seek to expand the wines’ availability through retail outlets and hospitality businesses.