2013: A Franschhoek beginning
Ching Ching Cellar opened its doors in 2013 from a village base in Franschhoek, with Lwazi Mthembu leading the business from day one. The early focus was clear: bring together people who loved wine and bubbly, and make local bottles feel less intimidating for beginners and more exciting for regular tasters. The first club members came from the Cape Winelands, and word spread quickly through friends, neighbours and small gatherings after work.
In that first year the team learned what members wanted most, which was not just a case of wine but context, stories and a way to enjoy it at home without fuss. South African wines were always at the centre, with careful attention paid to local grapes, producers and styles from the Western Cape and beyond.
2014 to 2015: Building the first tasting circle
By 2014, the club had moved beyond casual introductions and into proper tasting evenings. These early events were held in Franschhoek and nearby towns, with small groups sharing tasting notes, asking questions and learning how to spot freshness, structure and balance in both still wines and bubbly. It became clear that people wanted a setting that felt welcoming, not formal for the sake of it.
During 2015, the team refined the club experience and started shaping the monthly format that would later become one of the business’s strongest features. Megan Jacobs guided wine selection with a practical eye, while Anika van der Merwe helped turn membership into a smoother experience for people joining from different parts of the country.
- Small tasting evenings for local wine lovers
- Early member packs with a stronger educational focus
- More attention to local varietals and seasonal drinking
2016 to 2017: Monthly boxes take shape
The next stage came when the business began packing monthly subscription boxes for delivery across South Africa. This was a turning point. Members could now explore new bottles from home, whether they lived in Paarl, Somerset West, Constantia or further afield. The boxes made it easier for busy households and working professionals to enjoy a curated selection without spending hours choosing at a shelf.
Thabo Nkosi worked on the delivery side to keep boxes moving steadily, even when load-shedding made planning more difficult or local roads slowed the route. Leandri Botha supported members with practical service, helping people understand what was arriving and how best to enjoy it. The club started to feel less like a one-off purchase and more like an ongoing part of the month.
By the end of 2017, the monthly rhythm was established, and members were looking forward to each delivery as a small occasion in its own right.
2018 to 2019: Reaching more cities and private events
As the club grew, so did the number of ways people wanted to experience it. From 2018 onward, tasting evenings and private bookings became a bigger part of the business, with events in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Johannesburg and Durban. The team began hosting birthday tasting parties, engagement bubbly evenings, corporate tastings and food pairing dinners for groups that wanted something more personal than a standard night out.
These years also marked a stronger presence in the social side of wine. Siyabonga Dlamini coordinated events with enough structure to keep things running on time, while still allowing each gathering to feel relaxed. Club pop ups and seasonal tasting evenings gave members more chances to meet one another face to face, and many regulars came back for more than one event.
- Private home tastings for smaller groups
- Corporate tasting events and team building sessions
- Wedding wine planning for couples wanting local selection support
2020 to 2021: Adapting the club experience
When gatherings became harder to plan, the club adapted by putting more energy into virtual group tastings and beginner wine workshops. The shift allowed members to keep learning and socialising even when travel or venue plans changed. For many people, this period became a reminder that a good bottle can still bring people together, even when everyone is in different places.
The team also paid more attention to the Cellar Journal, which Yusuf Daniels helped shape into a more useful read for members. Notes, tasting guidance and simple pairing ideas became part of the broader club experience. It was a practical response to changing habits, and it kept the connection with members strong through a difficult period.
2022 to today: A mature club with local roots
From 2022 onward, Ching Ching Cellar settled into its current shape as a full tasting club with monthly boxes, hosted events and a growing base of members across South Africa. The business kept its Franschhoek roots, but its reach widened across Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Johannesburg, Durban, Paarl, Somerset West and Constantia. The club now serves people who want discovery, consistency and a proper reason to gather around the table.
Today the team includes a clear set of roles, each one helping the club run properly from month to month. Lwazi Mthembu remains at the centre of the business, with support from Anika, Siyabonga, Megan, Thabo, Leandri and Yusuf. Their work covers membership, events, wine selection, logistics, customer support and editorial content, so members get a considered experience rather than a rushed one.
- Monthly subscription boxes delivered nationwide
- Hosted tasting evenings in major South African cities
- Private, corporate and celebration events tailored to the group
- A steady focus on South African wines and bubbly
What has stayed the same since 2013 is the club’s purpose. Ching Ching Cellar still aims to make local wine feel approachable, social and worth talking about. The format has changed as the business has grown, but the heart of it remains the same, good bottles, good company, and a genuine appreciation for South African winemaking.