iNCIBA Wines: A taste of the Eastern Cape, rooted in identity and pride.
Imagine an evening after a long day of inspiring engagements with entrepreneurs and your loved ones, and when you get home, all you feel like is a glass of something red, dry and with an acceptable alcohol percentage. Then you remember there is nothing like that in your refrigerator. You make peace with it and head to your work desk to continue with your evening work, only to find that your first story to work on is a wine brand. Wow! Just wow! Anyway, forget about me. Allow me to take you through my conversation with Bongile Venfolo, CEO of iNCIBA Wines, a proudly black-owned wine brand with a story that reaches far beyond the bottle.
Established in July 2025, iNCIBA Wines is a 100% black-owned, Level 1 B-BBEE entity founded by Bongile Venfolo and Pumlani Nkoyi, who each hold a 50% share in the business. The founders bring complementary experience to the table, with Nkoyi having more than 15 years in hospitality and Venfolo bringing over a decade of experience in auditing, accounting, taxation and business advisory services.
Their decision to enter the wine industry was driven by a desire to build a brand that speaks to identity, heritage and representation while offering customers a quality wine experience.
For the founders, iNCIBA is not simply a product to be placed on retail shelves. It is a statement about who they are and the stories they want to tell.
“The value proposition of iNCIBA Wines is to provide a sense of fulfilment that is more than just a sip of wine,” Venfolo explains. “To us, iNCIBA is a spiritual statement, a cultural bridge that connects the past, the present and the future.”
The name itself carries considerable meaning. iNCIBA, meaning “border”, draws inspiration from the Great Kei River, which historically separated the former Ciskei and Transkei. The river represents a significant part of Eastern Cape history, and the founders have used that symbolism to build a brand around identity, power, protection and pride.
It is a story reflected in the names of the wines themselves, each honouring a prominent figure in Xhosa history.
iNCIBA Wines: A taste of the Eastern Cape, rooted in identity and pride.
The red wine collection includes the Natural Sweet Red, King Hintsa Edition, and the Dry Red Pinotage, Chief Maqoma Edition. The King Hintsa Edition offers mulberry aromas with hints of cinnamon, dried herbs and liquorice, while its fruit-forward palate is balanced by savoury tannins. The Pinotage, sourced from older vineyard blocks, brings dark berry fruit and chocolate notes, finishing with lingering tannins.
The white collection features the King Sarhili Edition White Blend, with citrus, Granny Smith apple and mineral notes, alongside the King Sandile Edition Sauvignon Blanc, known for its fresh fruit character, gooseberry and passion fruit aromas.
Beyond the tasting notes, the names acknowledge leaders whose histories remain important to the Eastern Cape and the broader South African story.
The founders have deliberately placed heritage at the centre of their offering, giving customers something to connect with before they even open a bottle.
“We don't have a selling price for our wines, instead, we have a selling value,” says Venfolo.
It is an ambitious positioning for a young business entering a competitive industry, particularly one where established brands already enjoy extensive distribution networks and market recognition. Yet iNCIBA Wines is determined to build its own place in the market.
That journey has not been without challenges. According to Venfolo, operating as a black-owned wine brand brings scrutiny, while regulatory compliance requires constant attention. The financial demands of running the business are another significant consideration, from delivery fees and transport to branding materials and certification.
The company has been funded from the founders' own pockets, making every business decision particularly important.
“However, for us to still be in existence after more than a year, it all boils down to strategic decisions taken, proper planning and convincing the right skills to join the company,” he says.
For corporate audiences, this is an important part of the iNCIBA story. Behind the branding and cultural narrative is a business navigating the practical realities of entrepreneurship, building relationships and working to establish a sustainable operation in a demanding sector.
Collaboration has played a major role in that progress. The company has worked with several establishments around KuGompo City, including SPAR Tops and East London Golf Club, where wine tastings have helped introduce the brand to new audiences. Its relationship with Grand Chesa in Southernwood holds particular significance for the founders.
Venfolo recalls how the establishment's owner, Trevor, gave them an early opportunity to host a wine tasting when the business was still finding its feet.
“That guy was the first ever person to give us a platform at his establishment to do wine tasting when we were starting out,” he says, expressing lasting gratitude for the support.
Towards the end of 2025, iNCIBA Wines intensified its brand awareness efforts through radio interviews on Tru-FM, The Voice Lounge and Ngcobo FM, alongside coverage in the Daily Dispatch and wine-tasting events across the Eastern Cape. The campaign helped extend its reach beyond the province, attracting orders from Gauteng and creating brand marketing opportunities in Mpumalanga.
Its partnership with East London Golf Club has also opened doors to wine tastings at events, including golf days, while the brand has secured shelf space at all three SPAR Tops outlets in Mdantsane.
On 1 September 2026, the company launched its website, www.incibawines.co.za, giving customers across the country an accessible way to explore the brand and place orders.
Looking ahead, the immediate priority is to expand distribution into more major retail outlets and grow its presence in Gqeberha and Mthatha. The founders are also preparing to introduce a wine line associated with a prominent personality, with the launch targeted for before the end of 2026.
Longer term, Venfolo has a bigger dream: establishing a successful vineyard in the Eastern Cape, with the grapes grown, wine processed and bottled, and products distributed from the province.
“Wouldn't it be great if we were to establish a successful vineyard in the Eastern Cape?” he asks. “Let's put that under our long-term goal, despite all the ‘valid’ reasons as to why it cannot happen.”
It is a fitting ambition for a brand built around the legacy of a region known for producing influential leaders and remarkable stories. For Bongile Venfolo and Pumlani Nkoyi, iNCIBA WINES is an opportunity to participate in an established industry while bringing a distinct Eastern Cape identity to the table.
As our conversation draws to a close, Venfolo leaves us with a message of gratitude: “Siyalibulela kakhulu ithuba enilisiphe lona ukuze sinibalisele nge iNCIBA Wines, baie dankie.”
The message is simple, but the ambition behind it is substantial. iNCIBA Wines wants its customers to enjoy what is in the glass while recognising the history, people and aspirations represented by the label. And if the founders have their way, today's bottles will be the beginning of a much bigger Eastern Cape wine story.
For more, visit: iNCIBA WINES
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