Given a chance to speculate about how Springbok great Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira makes a living after having signed off as a demolitions expert on the rugby field, most would guess something along the lines of being a piano mover, perhaps a night club bouncer, or part-time coach.
Yet his increasingly busy post-rugby life now also lists him as wine purveyor. It may seem an odd choice for a man not known for having a soft side, but Beast has long had an appreciation for wine. He admits to having enjoyed it on many rugby tours, often stashing bottles into his bags to bring home for his sumptuous cellar.
He wouldn’t be the first Springbok to dive in boots and all either. Hempies du Toit, Schalk Burger snr, Jannie Engelbrecht and Boland Coetzee all own wine estates, as did the late Ockie Oosthuizen. With just one back among them, it’s fair to say that chunky fingers are no impediment to holding a wine glass, or imbibing it.
Indeed, Gerard Holden, owner of the Holden Manz wine estate in Franschhoek, which produces the Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon for The Beast Collection of four wines, described it as you might well describe Beast himself: “Quite a big wine with elegant edges.”
Gerard also owns a property in the south of France, not a long way away from Chateau Miraval and its winery, owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, now the subject of a nasty legal squabble between the pair. “Brad got into the wine business in a big way,” he remarks.
Also in among The Beast Wine Collection are an MCC Brut, Rosé and a Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, which I happily tried during a tasting session with Beast and several associates earlier in the week. I could tell you about the pleasant smoky aromas and velvety sensations – all probably true – but I’d rather say that the entire collection is damn good. None of the bottles come particularly cheap, so you’re unlikely to find it at the grog shop down the road, but it’s well worth a visit to a top hotel or Makro even, who recognise the high-end quality.
Beast was aged 20 when he first tasted wine. “Love at first taste,” he says, admitting to an obsession that saw him seek out special wines on his many Springbok tours abroad.
A year ago the opportunity arose to create his own collection, which he did after several visits to vineyards. Allied to his love of wine, he got to understand the business of wine and was determined to create a selection that represented his personality.
His wine label is particularly striking, incorporating his family crest and thus extending Beast’s determination to tell his story.
He’s not entirely sure where this new venture might take him, although, suspiciously, he is off next week to Marseilles, where palates are refined and the wines are spectacular.
He suspects the Boks will find the going heavy against Ireland this weekend. But he likes the team and even gives the back three a shoutout. Nowadays he’s more likely to be watching on his couch, wine glass in hand. It’s a far better view than being stuck at the bottom of a ruck having hairy rugby players in his face.
Cheers to that.