Kumusha is the wine brand of Tinashe Nyamudoka, one of South Africa's most respected sommeliers. In the Shona language of Zimbabwe, kumusha means your home, your origin, your roots, and the name captures the project's purpose precisely.
Backstory
Born and raised in Harare, Tinashe moved to Cape Town in 2008 knowing little about wine. He started by polishing cutlery at a fine-dining restaurant, became a waiter, then a wine steward at Nobu, head sommelier at the Oyster Box Hotel, and spent five years at The Test Kitchen, where he won the Eat Out Wine Service Award in 2016. He then launched his own label, partly to bring more Black ownership and representation into the wine industry.
The Region
The wines are sourced from across South Africa's Western Cape, with key fruit and winemaking based in the Breedekloof Valley.
Winemaking
Kumusha is made in partnership with winemaker Atti Louw of Opstal Estate in Breedekloof, using minimal intervention and natural fermentation. Tinashe believes the best wines are true to their variety and region and carry a genuine sense of place.
The Wines
The range includes Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cinsault rose, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and blends, alongside the more experimental Wild Mutupo bottlings.