House of Mandela Wines, a company that was launched in the United States earlier this year by Makaziwe Mandela and Tukwini Mandela, daughter and granddaughter of former South African president and world icon, Nelson Mandela – will be featured at the “Toast of Brooklyn Wine and Food Festival” on Sept. 13 and 14, at the Brooklyn Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton St.
African American Selena Cuffe, owner of Heritage Link Brands, who is the sole importer of Mandela Wines, will welcome the South African wine makers, who said they are hopeful that their wine project furthers the evolution of the country’s fine wine industry, so that more black South Africans can reap the benefits of their growth, according to Wine Spectator.
House of Mandela Wines that was unveiled in South Africa three years ago, will be among world renown connoisseurs, and chefs to be featured at the fourth annual two-day wine and food event that is slated to showcase talented abstract painter Danny Simmons, brother of music mogul, Russell Simmons, and Guyanese artist of Arawak Leathercraft Shoe, Richard Winter.
Guyanese American Edmond Blackman, a 13-year wine and spirits entrepreneur in Bedford Stuyvesant, and a member of Fulton Nostrand United Merchants Association (FNUMA), is working along with the organization to showcase some of the world’s best connoisseurs and top chefs.
The first night of the event will honor Nelson Mandela and his work, during an awards ceremony that will pay tribute to those who have made outstanding contributions to the development of Bedford Stuyvesant, and the success of the festival. Those being honored include, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Robert Walsh, outgoing commissioner for small business services, and Phillip Banks, chief of community affairs of the NYPD.
The festival, which will attract big name sponsors such as the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Bed-Stuy Gateway BID, Amalgamated Bank, Applebee’s Super Foodtown and others, will host daytime and evening sessions that will encompass both exhibition, Jazz, and will give guests the opportunity to buy a two-day pass for Friday, 13, launch and all day Saturday with VIP reserved area including the cigar bar, for $75.00. The one-day pass with food and wine tasting will cost $40.00.
Edmond Braithwaite, whose brainchild it was seven years ago to engage giant alcohol companies such as Diageo, Gallo, Hennesy and others, to give back to the community by hosting the event, convinced then Carver Federal Savings Bank to use their space, that successfully brought out a large cross-section of community.
In addition, Braithwaite was fortunate in getting (FNUMA) and these companies to award 10 scholarships to community students during a ceremony where then president of the organization handed out the bursars at Applebee’s restaurant, on Fulton Street in Brooklyn.
To learn more about the festival log on www.toastobrooklyn.com.
