How Ching Ching Cellar Began in Franschhoek
Ching Ching Cellar started in 2013 in Franschhoek village with a clear idea: South African wine should be something people can explore without needing a degree in grapes or a special occasion. A bottle at home, a tasting with friends, or a proper evening around a table can be enough. Over time, that idea grew into a wine and bubbly club that serves members across South Africa, while staying grounded in the winelands where it began.
We work from a local base in Franschhoek, which keeps us close to the producers, the seasonality and the practical realities of getting bottles out to members in good condition. Summer heat in Gauteng, coastal humidity in Durban, and stop start traffic across the country all matter when you are sending wine to homes and planning live events. We plan around those details so our members do not have to.
The club is led by Lwazi Mthembu, with a small team that handles membership, wine selection, events, logistics and customer care. That matters because a club only works well when the people behind it know the product, know the routes and know what members actually want from a monthly delivery or a tasting evening.
What We Stand For in Every Box and Event
Our values are straightforward. We favour South African wines and sparkling beverages because they deserve a proper place at the table. We value learning, but not in a stuffy way. We want members to feel relaxed enough to ask questions, compare flavours and notice what they like. We also value consistency, because a monthly subscription only earns trust when the selection arrives with care and the experience matches what was promised.
Every box and every event reflects a few things we keep coming back to:
- Local first, with a strong focus on South African producers and styles.
- Curated selection, chosen for quality, balance and season.
- Friendly guidance that helps members enjoy wine without feeling intimidated.
- Social connection, because tasting is better when it is shared.
- Practical service, from delivery timing to event coordination and follow up.
We are also careful about variety. Some members enjoy a crisp white with seafood in Somerset West, while others want a red for a winter dinner in Johannesburg or a sparkling bottle for a birthday in Constantia. Our role is to choose thoughtfully, not to tell people what they should like. That makes the club feel personal, not prescriptive.
How We Choose Wines and Bubbly for Members
Wine selection sits at the heart of the club. Megan Jacobs leads that process, balancing familiar local favourites with bottles that help members discover something new. We look at structure, balance, aroma, food friendliness and how a wine or bubbly fits into the season. A summer box might lean lighter and brighter, while a colder month may call for more depth and texture. For bubbly, we look for freshness, clean acidity and the kind of finish that makes a celebration feel special.
We do not choose bottles just because they sound interesting. We choose them because they drink well, suit South African tables and travel well when packed for delivery. That includes considering bottle stability, packaging, route planning and how changes in temperature can affect a shipment. It is detail work, and it matters.
Our monthly boxes are built for people who want to taste at home, on their own time, with clear notes and enough context to enjoy the pour. Some members collect every release. Others use the box as a reason to try something different after work. Either way, the goal is the same: open the bottle, pour a glass, and enjoy it properly.
Tastings That Feel Like a Good Evening Out
We also host tasting evenings in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Johannesburg and Durban. These events are designed to feel welcoming and useful at the same time. You can learn about styles, compare bottles, ask questions and still have a proper social evening. That balance is important. People remember a tasting far more clearly when the setting feels relaxed and the information is easy to follow.
Siyabonga Dlamini coordinates those events with care, which means the format is practical as well as enjoyable. We plan for private homes, corporate groups, birthdays, engagement bubbly evenings, pairing dinners and seasonal tasting nights. We also offer virtual group tastings for teams or friends who are not in the same place. The same standards apply whether we are hosting ten people in Franschhoek or a larger group in Johannesburg.
- Private home tastings for intimate groups and family gatherings.
- Corporate tasting events and team building sessions for staff groups.
- Food pairing dinners and bubbly masterclasses with clear guidance.
- Beginner wine workshops for members who want to learn the basics.
- Wedding wine planning and club pop up events for special occasions.
We keep the format flexible because different groups need different things. A new member may want simple explanations and easy tasting notes, while a seasoned wine lover may want more detail on vineyard style, winemaking choices and food pairing. Both should feel at home.
Delivery, Membership and Day to Day Care
Thabo Nkosi manages logistics and delivery, which is a big part of why the club works smoothly across South Africa. Monthly boxes need to arrive intact, on time and in good condition, whether they are headed to Paarl, Johannesburg or Durban. That means careful packing, sensible routing and a realistic approach to weather, distance and municipal delivery constraints. Load-shedding can also affect timing and handovers, so we plan ahead where we can.
Membership is handled by Anika van der Merwe, who keeps the club side of things clear and manageable for members. If someone wants to join, change a delivery detail, ask about an upcoming event or understand what is included in a box, the process should be simple. Leandri Botha supports customer experience, so people feel looked after before and after their order or booking.
We also know that good service is often about the small things. A reply that is clear, a delivery update that arrives in time, or a tasting note that actually helps when deciding what to open with supper. Those are the things members remember. Yusuf Daniels handles our Cellar Journal content, which keeps the club conversation going between boxes and events.
Why South African Wine Matters to Us
There is a reason we keep returning to South African wine. It reflects place, climate, farming skill and years of work in the cellar and on the land. It also suits the way many of us actually drink and gather: with food, with friends, and with a mix of special occasions and ordinary evenings. We believe local wines and bubbly deserve to be celebrated not only in winelands towns, but in homes across the country.
For us, celebrating local wine is not about being exclusive. It is about making the category easier to enjoy and easier to understand. When people know what to expect from a bottle, they are more likely to try it again, recommend it, and build their own small rituals around it. That is the kind of loyalty we value most.
If you are joining for the monthly box, a tasting evening or a private event, you are part of the same idea. Good South African wine, shared well, can turn a normal night into something worth remembering. That has guided us since 2013, and it still guides how we work today.