This archive report was first published on 4 December 2019.
From Marketing Agent to Wine Icon: Kelvin Wanjira's Journey ¶
December 4, 2019
Popularly known as Winejira, Kelvin Wanjira has taken his passion for wine and turned it into a blooming business. As one of Kenya's top wine consultants and experts, he is in the process of creating the first wine syllabus in Kenya and working with like-minded wine experts to form the Sommelier Association of Kenya.
Wanjira's journey into the world of wine began six to seven years ago when he was working as a marketing agent in a company that had a wine distributor as a client. His boss appointed him as the account manager of the brand, Nederburg, and Wanjira was initially hesitant but eventually became fascinated with the industry.
'I was amazed that one beverage could have so many layers and humbled about how little I knew,' Wanjira said. 'Before that, I had one box of sweet wine in my house, just in case a guest showed up and requested wine. I knew nothing about the different grapes, tastes, pairing wine with certain foods.'
Wanjira's passion for wine led him to handle the Nederburg account for three years, during which time he learned about the different categories of wine, including white, red, rose, and fortified wines. He also discovered the importance of knowing the specific tastes and preferences of different wines.
'Wine is a niche industry in Kenya, but I believe there is enough demand to justify the creation of a wine curriculum,' Wanjira said. 'My qualifications are from the London-based Wines and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), and I believe that my curriculum will train mostly students coming fresh into the field.'
Wanjira is currently developing a wine curriculum that will be marketed to existing institutions that already offer hospitality as a course. He believes that the curriculum will be highly marketable and will help to create a pool of skilled wine experts in Kenya.
Wanjira's venture into the wine industry has been successful, and he earns a comfortable six-figure monthly income as a consultant. However, he has doubts about the future of the industry and whether it will be able to scale.
'I believe passion and follow-through open doors,' Wanjira said. 'It's what I've done in my seven-year career, and it's what I'll continue to do.'
Wanjira's tips for building niches include studying, being humble, and being where you are. He believes that these qualities are essential for success in any industry, including the wine industry.
