Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

THE Cape Mountain manor in Cape Town, South Africa, was enveloped in a joyful atmosphere as a delegation consisting of 46 diplomatic envoys from the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), gathered for a wine tasting and buffet dinner at the vineyard despite the downpour May 30 local time.

At the entrance of a 300-square-meter tent for wine and dinner in the vineyard, the diplomats were given a warm reception by traditional African performances staged by 26 young South African artists.

At the request of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, the dinner was held on the occasion of the BRICS Sherpa Meeting held in Cape Town in preparation for a meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations on June 1.

Cape Mountain Winery (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., under the management of Wang Yunjiang, hosted the state dinner for the diplomatic envoys at the tent, which was exclusively constructed for the diplomats’ gathering.

Five envoys from the BRICS countries signed a memo drawn up by Cape Mountain to commemorate their visit to the vineyard. Anil Sooklal, the ambassador-at-large for Asia and BRICS countries, expressed his sincere appreciation to the estate for hosting the event, according to the memo.

Wang, owner of the manor and the vineyard’s chief operating officer in China, recalled the preparation the Shenzhen company had made after receiving the task to host the dinner.

“We spent 10 days building the tent. Despite the heavy wind and downpours, we worked on it with all our heart and we made it,” Wang said.

Among the three wines served for the diplomats, one of them which was made of a grape specialty, Pinotage —  only growing in South Africa — triggered the delegates’ curiosity. The delegates listened to the stories about the grape and wine as well as the history of the over 155-year-old vineyard.

The Cape Mountain manor, formerly known as Alkmaar Winery, was established in 1868 and is a historic boutique vineyard.

The company took into consideration the guests’ various dietary habits and delicately prepared a feast of meat, vegetables and fruits, specially serving spring rolls, or chunjuan, a traditional Chinese snack.

The featured traditional African performances were also part of the Shenzhen company’s elaborate arrangements. The artists showed great passion in their dances and songs, and gained applause from the delegates.

“Thanks to Siyabonga C. Cwele, South Africa’s ambassador to China, we gained the opportunity to host the high-end wine party. We treasured the opportunities, aiming to present an inclusive culture from our food and entertainment arrangements,” Wang said.

“The company’s goal is to spread the cultures of South Africa and China, and serve as a bridge to extend mutual understanding for people from the two countries,” Wang added.