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There is a question that comes up more often than you might expect at dinner tables, in supermarket aisles, and at the wine shelves of Nairobi’s best restaurants: which wine do I choose?
For many Kenyan wine drinkers, whether you are just beginning to explore wine or you have been enjoying it for years, the choice between a white wine and a red wine can feel more complicated than it needs to be. Add to that the exciting but unfamiliar reality of a wine that is grown and bottled right here in Kenya, and the question becomes even more interesting.
At La Sambara, we believe that choosing the right wine should feel natural, not intimidating. This guide is here to help you understand the difference between our two wines, the Chenin Blanc and the Shiraz and more importantly, to help you match the right bottle to the right moment in your life.
Before we talk about flavor, it helps to understand the story behind the wine, because at La Sambara, the land is inseparable from what is in the glass.
Our estate sits in a unique part of Kenya, nestled between the rolling hills of Buuri in Northern Meru and the open plains of Isiolo and Samburu. It is a landscape of contrast, highland freshness meeting lowland warmth, fertile volcanic soils meeting equatorial sun. That combination, unusual for a wine-growing region anywhere in the world, gives La Sambara wines their distinctive character.
Both the Chenin Blanc and the Shiraz are organically grown and vinified on this estate. They are nourished by Kenyan soil, shaped by Kenyan seasons, and crafted by Kenyan hands. That is not just a detail, it is the foundation of everything that goes into the bottle.
Chenin Blanc is a white wine grape variety with a long and storied history in the wine world, but what La Sambara’s terroir does to it is something altogether its own.
In the glass, La Sambara Chenin Blanc presents a light, pale straw color with a clean, inviting clarity. On the nose, meaning the aromas you pick up when you bring the glass close you will notice fresh, fruit-forward notes. Think of ripe green apple, a hint of citrus, and a subtle floral quality that speaks to the cool elevation of the Meru highlands. There is a lightness to it, a kind of bright energy that makes it immediately appealing.
On the palate, the wine is crisp and refreshing, with a clean acidity that makes your mouth water in the best possible way. It is not heavily oaked or overly complex. It is honest, expressive, and deeply enjoyable, exactly the kind of wine that rewards you whether you are a first-time wine drinker or someone who has spent years developing their palate.
It is best served chilled, between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, and it opens up beautifully as it warms slightly in the glass.
If the Chenin Blanc is a cool highland breeze, the Shiraz is a warm evening fire.
La Sambara Shiraz is a full-bodied red wine, and it carries the character of the warmer, lower-lying plains of the estate with confidence. In the glass, it is deep and richly colored a sign of the concentration and complexity that the Kenyan sun brings to the grape skin.
On the nose, you will encounter dark fruit: think ripe plum, blackberry, and a touch of spice that lingers in a way that feels both bold and refined. There is also a subtle earthiness to it, a quality that wine lovers often describe as “terroir-driven” meaning it tastes unmistakably of the place where it was grown.
On the palate, the Shiraz has weight and presence. The tannins the compounds that give red wine its slightly drying, gripping texture are well-integrated and smooth, making this an approachable full-bodied red even for those who are newer to red wine. It finishes long and warm, with that lingering spice that makes you want another sip.
It is best served at room temperature or very slightly chilled around 16 to 18 degrees Celsius and benefits from being opened 15 to 20 minutes before serving, allowing it to breathe and fully express itself.
To make the choice even easier, here is a simple summary:
Choose the Chenin Blanc when you want something light, fresh, and versatil, for white meat, seafood, vegetarian dishes, daytime occasions, and guests who prefer white wine.
Choose the Shiraz when you want something bold, warming, and complex, for red meat, smoky grilled food, hearty stews, evening occasions, and guests who prefer red wine.
When in doubt, choose both.
There is something meaningful happening in the Kenyan wine landscape, and La Sambara is part of it. For a long time, wine culture in East Africa has been shaped almost entirely by imported bottles from South Africa, France, Italy, and beyond. Those are fine wines, and they have a place.
But there is now a Kenyan wine grown in volcanic Kenyan soil, shaped by the altitude and seasons of Meru, crafted with organic integrity that belongs on the same table. Not as a novelty. Not as a compromise. As a genuine expression of what this land is capable of producing.
When you choose La Sambara, you are not just choosing a wine for an occasion. You are choosing to be part of a story that is still being written one vineyard, one harvest, one bottle at a time.
La Sambara Wines are produced and bottled by Seven Mavericks at La Sambara Estate, P.O Box 28, 60200, Meru, Kenya. Visit us at www.lasambara.com or reach us at info@sambara.co.ke. Enjoy La Sambara with your favourite foods, people, and good times.
Excessive consumption of alcohol is harmful to your health. Not for sale to persons under the age of 18. Please drink responsibly.
Proudly grown, proudly Kenyan. La Sambara is Kenya's own, organically farmed in the volcanic soils of Northern Meru, vinified by Kenyan hands, crafted just for you
