WeeklySA_AdminPATHWAY: South Africa’s award-winning media personality and owner of renowned sparkling wine The House of BNG, Bonang Matheba is – just like her MCC brand – true effervescence personified, lighting up every room she enters with her flamboyant personality. In this WEEKLY SA MIRROR question & answer interview, the ‘Queen of Bling’ shares her journey…
By Len Maseko
Six years has passed since you launched your prestigious House of BNG brand in 2019. Describe your journey, in a nutshell, so far?
The last six years have been incredibly rewarding, but not without challenges. Like any young entrepreneur, I’ve learnt many lessons and can honestly say I’ve grown so much, both as a person and a business owner. With each new variant, I’ve been exposed to wonderful opportunities for collaboration, deepening my understanding of winemaking and the incredible diversity of South African terroir. I am loving being able to explore my passion for South African wines and share these discoveries with others who appreciate the craft and story behind each bottle.
Any highlights to share?
In 2019, our MCC was chosen as the bubbly of choice for guests at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration, which led to many collaborations in the years that followed. From our involvement with Miss South Africa to SunMet, and partnerships with global brands like L’Oréal, including masterclasses, an upcoming beauty event with Takealot, and the SA Style Awards. Yet whenever we launch a new variant, it remains a highlight for me, bringing me tremendous joy and excitement.
How has it been like working with winemaker Jeff Grier, a legend of many vintages at Villiera?
Jeff Grier has been pivotal to the growth of The House of BNG, creating a unique blend that beautifully fuses my love for wine, particularly South African wines, with his expertise within the wine industry. He has crafted and bottled our bubbly in a way that truly captures the taste I envisioned. He is a phenomenal person we have loved working with and remains a vital part of our wonderful brand.
What is the most useful and defining nugget of wisdom you have learnt from the old master, that you will carry through your future endeavours?
Jeff has helped me understand and appreciate the art of patience and time, something I’ve embraced in how I live my life. When creating wine, time is your friend. You need patience to achieve the best result. Time transforms everything about a wine, from its flavour profile to the aromas and complexity it develops. It’s wisdom I’ve taken from Jeff that I will carry through all my future endeavours.
How are the Prestige Reserve and the Nectar editions doing in the market?
The Nectar edition is the best-selling variant within the BNG range. It’s the edition our customers truly love, likely because of its convenient can format. It’s the offering that has resonated most with our audience, which is why we launched a non-alcoholic variant of Nectar to meet this demand.
Our Brut Reserve is also performing well. We released a limited edition, and it continues to sell strongly. We see customers purchasing the Brut Reserve for milestone celebrations and special moments, but equally for everyday enjoyment. The BNG customer varies, and as our tagline says, “We turn any location into an occasion”, which reflects how people are buying and enjoying our products.
How would you describe the market reception to the cans?
Our canned format is the best-selling in our range, which is why we launched the non-alcoholic variant of the Nectar Rosé. I think people love the convenience, the flavour, the packaging, but most importantly, the brand itself. It’s a delicious sparkling wine and we’re proud of it. We were one of the first to offer canned MCC in the country, so the innovation in both presentation and accessibility is something our customers have always loved and appreciated. It remains one of the leading offerings in the market.
What are your future plans? I heard that you are working on plans to launch the mimosa in the coming weeks?
Yes, the mimosa is coming and we are putting the final touches together. Watch this space
How far those plans?
We’re putting the final touches together and will announce a launch date soon.
Why the mimosa?
I love a mimosa, and our customers have consistently asked for one, especially after we launched the non-alcoholic variant. We genuinely listen to trends and consumer preferences in the drinks market. Women are enjoying sparkling wine differently, at different times and occasions, and we need to respond to what our customers want. I’m a big fan of mimosas and have always enjoyed them, so being able to offer this to our customers is truly exciting.
Any exports plans? And, are you exporting to the rest of the continent?
Yes, our House of BNG products are currently available in Lesotho and Eswatini, and we’re listed on port-to-port and wine-to-wine platforms where customers can purchase our brand online. We’re also stocked in select independent retailers in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
We have exciting expansion plans underway. We’ve just secured a listing at La Parada, which marks our entry into the premium restaurant sector. From there, we’re working towards partnerships in aviation, which will naturally open doors to duty-free retail. This means international visitors will be able to enjoy BNG as they travel through South African airports, introducing our MCC to a global audience. It’s an important step in building our brand’s presence beyond our borders whilst maintaining the quality and authenticity that defines us.
What is your mantra or life’s philosophy?
Our mantra is to turn any location into an occasion. Celebrate your wins, big or small. Create wonderful memories for yourself and learn to truly celebrate those moments. That’s my philosophy in life and really the ethos of who I am. Big or small, whether it’s a wedding or a two-month anniversary, I love to celebrate wins. I love to celebrate people, and it’s reflected in me and our brand as a whole.
