Luke Dale-Roberts’s The Test Kitchen, number 2 restaurant in the Top 10, hosted a world-famous guest on 26 March: multiple Grammy award-winning Ed Sheeran. The Thinking Out Loud singer indulged in the fine-dining experience on the night before the first of his two concerts in Cape Town. Something else he indulged in? Head sommelier (and 2016 winner of the Eat Out Wine Service Award) Tinashe Nyamudoka‘s own wine, named Kumusha.

 

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A post shared by KumushaWines (@tinashe_nyamudoka) on Mar 27, 2019 at 12:55am PDT

Ed took his parents along to the world-renowned restaurant, dining casually in a hoodie. How did he end up tasting Kumusha, even though it wasn’t part of his wine pairing? Says Tinashe, “During our interaction I mentioned that I bottle my own wine and would be keen to find out what he thought about it.” As it turned out, Ed was still waiting for his wine to be served, so Tinashe did some quick thinking: “I wasn’t prepared and I know my red blend takes time to open up [so I] delayed serving him whilst I frantically decanted it.”

 

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A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos) on Mar 27, 2019 at 2:05pm PDT

Ed’s thoughts? “He genuinely loved it,” says Tinashe. Ed said it was juicy and went on to buy a bottle for himself, though not before signing one for the sagacious sommelier, who hopes to put it to use for a good cause someday.

As for what Ed is like up close and personal? “He’s such a humble soul and very inquisitive,” describes Tinashe. “He enjoys food and certainly loves his wines.”

 

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A post shared by KumushaWines (@tinashe_nyamudoka) on Mar 3, 2019 at 9:28am PST

If you want to get a taste of Kumusha for yourself, order via Instagram or swing by Open Wine at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock.

Read our review of The Test Kitchen.