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Tasting Stories

Our tasting stories show how Ching Ching Cellar brings people together in homes, venues and workspaces. Each one reflects a different city, occasion and style of gathering.

Tasting Stories
Sea Point Birthday

Sea Point Birthday

A bubbly led hosted tasting for a milestone birthday in a stylish seaside apartment.

Sandton Office Evening

Sandton Office Evening

An after work tasting event that helped a professional team unwind and connect.

Umhlanga Rooftop Tasting

Umhlanga Rooftop Tasting

A sunset rooftop session featuring crisp whites and lively bubbly for a private group.

Stellenbosch Alumni Tasting

Stellenbosch Alumni Tasting

A social tasting evening created for an alumni group reconnecting over local wine.

Franschhoek Garden Lunch

Franschhoek Garden Lunch

A long lunch tasting with mixed wines and bubbly in a leafy private garden.

Claremont Book Club

Claremont Book Club

A cosy in home tasting paired with conversation, shared dishes and monthly reading notes.

Pretoria Engagement Night

Pretoria Engagement Night

A celebratory private tasting that blended sparkling wines with elegant food pairings.

Durban North Kitchen Party

Durban North Kitchen Party

A lively hosted tasting built around easy pairings and warm hospitality at home.

Rosebank Client Thanks

Rosebank Client Thanks

A refined thank you event where guests explored local wines in a polished setting.

Paarl Family Celebration

Paarl Family Celebration

A family tasting afternoon that balanced approachable wines, bubbly and generous platters.

Bryanston Ladies Night

Bryanston Ladies Night

A stylish home tasting event featuring rosé, bubbly and guided social tasting notes.

Green Point Launch Party

Green Point Launch Party

A launch evening supported by a wine and bubbly tasting station for invited guests.

Waterfall Showhouse Tasting

Waterfall Showhouse Tasting

A property display event enhanced with elegant local wines and welcoming bubbly.

Tokai Winter Pairing

Tokai Winter Pairing

A winter tasting focused on richer reds and comfort food pairings in a private home.

Ballito Holiday Tasting

Ballito Holiday Tasting

A relaxed festive season tasting for holidaymakers wanting local bubbles and easy whites.

Choose the right tasting story for your group

Some groups want a relaxed evening with a few carefully chosen bottles, while others want a guided experience with food, learning and conversation. That is why our tasting stories are kept varied. You can choose a private home tasting, a corporate session, a birthday celebration, or a bubbly evening that feels a little more festive without becoming fussy.

If you are unsure where to start, think about the mood, the number of guests and the time you have available. A small home gathering in Franschhoek may suit a slower tasting with snacks and chat, while a company team in Cape Town may need a tighter format with clear talking points and punctual set-up.

  • Private and social events for smaller groups
  • Workplace tastings for teams and clients
  • Celebrations with wine, bubbly and paired bites
  • Learning sessions for beginners and curious sippers

Stories shaped by place and pace

Every city brings its own rhythm. In Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, tastings often lean into the local wine culture and a slower pace. In Johannesburg, groups usually want a lively evening with clear structure and enough space for mingling. Durban events often need careful planning around venue conditions, especially for warm weather and bubbly service.

We also work around the practical side of a gathering. Coastal humidity can affect how drinks are handled, and load-shedding means backup plans matter for lighting, serving and timing. A good tasting is not only about what is in the glass, but also about getting the details right from arrival to last pour.

  • Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Constantia for intimate wine-led evenings
  • Cape Town for private homes, restaurants and event venues
  • Johannesburg for corporate functions and group socials
  • Durban for warm-climate tastings and bubbly-focused occasions

How our monthly boxes connect to the stories

Our monthly subscription boxes let members explore a curated selection of local wines and sparkling beverages at home. They are a simple way to build up your own tasting stories between hosted events. Some members use the boxes to learn their preferences, while others use them to prepare for a future tasting with friends or colleagues.

Each box supports discovery without making things complicated. You can open one bottle on a quiet Friday night, or split the selection across a small group so everyone can compare notes. It is a practical way to keep your tasting journey moving, especially if you live outside the main event cities and still want regular access to new favourites.

What you can book through Ching Ching Cellar

Our tasting stories include a range of formats for homes, venues and workspaces. The focus is always on making the gathering feel well matched to the group, the setting and the reason for meeting. Some events are social, some are educational and some are built around a milestone or company function.

  • Private Home Tastings and Birthday Tasting Parties
  • Corporate Tasting Events and Cellar Team Building
  • Engagement Bubbly Evenings and Wedding Wine Planning
  • Food Pairing Dinners, Seasonal Tasting Evenings and Club Pop Up Events
  • Virtual Group Tastings, Beginner Wine Workshops and Bubbly Masterclasses

We also host tasting evenings in Franschhoek, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Johannesburg and Durban, with options for Paarl, Somerset West and Constantia when the setting calls for it. The aim is always to keep the experience enjoyable and well organised, not overdone.

A club built around South African wines

Ching Ching Cellar was founded in 2013 and is based in Franschhoek village. Our work centres on South African wines and bubbly, with a strong local feel in every tasting story we share. That means guests can expect familiar regions, honest discussion and a selection that reflects local producers and styles.

The team behind the club helps shape each event from selection to delivery. Lwazi Mthembu leads the business, while the membership, events, wine selection, logistics, customer care and Cellar Journal work are handled by people who know the detail. That mix helps keep the experience steady, whether the event is in a private home or a busy venue.

Use the listings to find your best match

The listing cards on this page will guide you to the right story once they are added below. Use them to compare the type of event, the city, the tone and the group size. If you are planning for clients, a team or family and friends, the best option is usually the one that fits your space and your timing, not the fanciest one.

When you are ready, send your enquiry through the contact form and tell us what kind of gathering you have in mind. A short note about the date, the city and the number of guests is enough to start shaping the right tasting story.

Questions we get asked

What kinds of tasting stories does Ching Ching Cellar offer?

We offer private home tastings, corporate events, birthday parties, bubbly evenings, food pairing dinners, virtual group tastings, workshops and seasonal club events.

Which cities do you host tasting events in?

We host tasting evenings in Franschhoek, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Johannesburg and Durban, with additional event work in Paarl, Somerset West and Constantia.

How do I choose the right tasting format?

Start with your guest count, the occasion and the mood you want. Then choose a format that suits the space, whether that is a home, venue or workplace setting.

Planning something? Send the team a message.

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