A Journey of Firsts: When Soweto meets the Winelands

When Soweto’s trend-setting content creator Mpho “Arthur” Magadze – known to his 100 000+ followers as @sowetohippie – set off for Stellenbosch, he didn’t know he’d soon be swapping street style for vineyard rows and wine barrels. But his week-long stay at Delheim Wine Estate in the Cape Winelands would become a cultural crossover worth raising a glass to.

The adventure, captured in a new documentary series titled A Journey of Firsts: From Soweto to Stellies, is currently on People’s Planet, Openview channel 115. Produced by Chen Swan and Walla Films for Delheim Estate, the four-part, 24-minute series follows Magadze as he dives headfirst into the world of wine, discovering that Cape heritage and Soweto flair make a surprisingly good blend.

Quirky, irreverent and relatable, A Journey of Firsts is more than just a travel diary. It’s a meeting of two cultures: the sophisticated traditions of Stellenbosch’s wine country and the lively, expressive rhythm of township life. Through Magadze’s eyes, viewers experience a fresh take on South Africa’s wine scene – one that’s accessible, joyful, and unpretentious.

“What a journey of firsts, on so many levels,” says Magadze, who admits he came home from Stellenbosch as a “committed wine lover and ambassador”.

Arthur Magadze with Nongcebo Langa, Delheim winemaker. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Milestones and memories

For him, the trip was a series of genuine milestones.

“Making this series saw me flying in an aeroplane for the first time and a first visit to the Cape, a cool place I had dreamed of seeing for as long as I can remember,” he says.

The Delheim team welcomed him with open arms, introducing him to the intricacies of winemaking – from the early-morning harvest to the cellar’s oak-scented calm. “Stellies side is too different from Joho,” he laughs.

“The guys from Delheim put me on – I was there to sip. It was so great to learn more about wine culture, not just the consumption side. I learned so much! The best was to learn that nobody is wrong – I could enjoy wine the way I experience it.”

That message – that wine belongs to everyone – runs throughout the series. Magadze’s lively storytelling, laced with humour and authenticity, gives a fresh voice to a tradition sometimes seen as exclusive.

“I will never take another bottle of wine for granted after experiencing what it takes to make one,” he says. “Now I’m putting people on about winemaking and culture.”

During his stay, he was mentored by Delheim’s directors Victor Sperling and Nora Thiel, the estate’s second-generation custodians. Together with the cellar team, they took Magadze through the rhythms of harvest season – tasting grapes, fermenting juice, and even joining the Delheim Harvest Celebration.

Lessons from the vineyard

“Each day I learnt something new about vineyards and winemaking,” he recalls. “All these new names became my homies – chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, pinotage and rosé. Believe me when I say I was not going to choose, but wanted to experience all of it.”

Of course, Magadze’s signature energy was never far from the surface. Between picking grapes and learning about fermentation, he was on his phone sharing stories and videos with his followers back home. “I wanted them to feel the FOMO,” he grins. “And I can’t wait to take the bottles back to the hood and put my homies on to finer things!”

Perhaps the biggest lesson Magadze took from the vineyards was that there’s no single right way to enjoy wine.

“If you want to put ice in your wine, it’s about what you prefer,” he says. “Wine has no boundaries – just enjoy it the way you like it.”

From tasting the estate’s flagship Grand Reserve to learning why wine needs to “breathe”, every moment expanded his appreciation of the craft.

“So what I’m saying is, once A Journey of Firsts rolls, pour a glass of Delheim wine, kick back and check out the Soweto Hippie doing wine. You’ll love this journey as much as I did.”