SOUTH AFRICA – City Lodge Hotels has introduced its debut range of Easy House wines, produced in partnership with award-winning Diemersfontein Wine Estate and Thokozani Holdings.
As the group’s food and beverage offering continues to grow and develop, adding a signature house wine was a natural next step.
The new and exceptional house wines, Easy Red and Easy White, reflect City Lodge Hotels’ commitment to providing quality and outstanding value to our guests at a great price in all the restaurants and bars across the four brands of hotels:
Easy White is a 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, pale yellow with a green tinge, and displays fresh acidity and ripe tropical fruits like pineapple and passion fruit, ending with a zingy lime and textured mouthfeel. It pairs well with our fresh salads, fish and chicken dishes, light snacks, pizzas, and sandwiches.
Easy Red is a 2022 Pinotage with rich, dark fruits like mulberry and blackberry on the nose, strawberry, cherry, and plum on the palate, and a subtle hint of well-balanced oak.
It pairs well with dishes like our Shisa Nyama, chicken curry, hearty grills, and more, and it is a perfect partner for our delectable chocolate mousse.
The Easy wines are available across all four hotel brands: Courtyard Hotel, City Lodge Hotel, Town Lodge, and Road Lodge.
Diemersfontein Wines’ meaningful shareholder, Thokozani Staff Holdings, is a level 1 B-BBEE majority-female company and an empowerment venture between Diemersfontein’s owners, David and Sue Sonnenberg, and the estate’s employees.
Thokozani (meaning “celebrations” in Zulu) wines are produced by estate employees who enjoy ownership and a stake in the brand’s success.
Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, chief operating officer of City Lodge Hotels, says, “Our new partnership with Diemersfontein Wine Estate and Thokozani Staff Holdings aligns with our own B-BBEE and entrepreneur upliftment commitment.”
“We are delighted to offer our guests our new house wines of distinction, Easy Red and Easy White. Not only can you check into Easy, but you can also sip Easy!”
Thokozani Holdings is owned by 39 employees of Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate. Thokozani Staff Holdings has a meaningful shareholding in Diemersfontein Wines, the estate’s trading company, marking a significant step in the transformation and development of this empowerment venture.
Thokozani Holdings follows a similar business model to Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate. It includes a wine brand and guest houses and also manages conference facilities on the Estate.
Developing staff expertise and skills is an important component of the relationship. It boosts Thokozani Holding’s position as a sustainable and growing enterprise and secures the financial future of its shareholders.
Wellington Preparatory School and College, established on the Estate in 2004 and IEB accredited with an enviable track record of producing top students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
Sue and David Sonnenberg inspired the school, and its success is due in no small measure to their commitment, passion, and drive. Of the 320 learners, 40 from disadvantaged backgrounds are currently provided financial support through a trust.
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