- Title: Rwandan entrepreneur turns beetroot into red wine
- Date: 5th October 2018
- Summary: RUBAVU, RWANDA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ENTREPRENEUR ASSOUMPTA UWAMARIYA AND FARM WORKERS HARVESTING BEETROOT VARIOUS OF UWAMARIYA AND WORKING REMOVING LEAVES OFF OF BEETROOT VARIOUS OF FARM WORKER PUTTING BEETROOT IN A SACK/SACK OF BEETROOT BEING MEASURED UWAMARIYA PAYING FOR BAG OF BEETROOT (SOUNDBITE) (Kinyarwanda) ENTREPRENEUR, ASSOUMPTA UWAMARIYA SAYING: "The idea came right after I finished university and couldn't find a job. I realised that there were many people looking for jobs and there were no jobs. So, I started thinking of doing something unique and innovative, so I decided to start farming beetroots. I first started making beetroot juice, but then I met someone online who trained me on how to make beetroot wine." VARIOUS OF UWAMARIYA AND HER EMPLOYEES CUTTING UP BEETROOT AND WASHING THEM BUCKET CONTAINING BEETROOT WORKER CARRYING BASIN CONTAINING BEETROOT VARIOUS OF UWAMARIYA PUTTING BEETROOT IN BOILING POT UWAMARIYA LIGHTING FIRE IN STOVE FIRE VARIOUS OF BOILING POT OF BEETROOT VARIOUS OF UWAMARIYA POURING BEETROOT WINE UWAMARIYA TASTING WINE VARIOUS OF UMAMARIYA POURING WINE IN BOTTLE (SOUNDBITE) (Kinyarwanda) ENTREPRENEUR, ASSOUMPTA UWAMARIYA SAYING: "I have many customers outside of Rwanda. I have customers in Congo, Mozambique. I also found out that I have customers in Germany. I don't know how my wine got there, but they told me that they tasted my wine and started ordering from me afterwards. Some of them even came all the way here to see me and buy wine." VARIOUS OF WORKERS WRITING DOWN AND PUTTING LABELS ON WINE BOTTLES UMAMARIYA TAKING WINE BOTTLES WORKER PUTTING WINE BOTTLES IN CRATE UWAMARIYA AND WORKERS STACKING WINE BOTTLES ON SHELF VARIOUS OF UWAMARIYA CHECKING WINE BOTTLES ON SHELF MEN PLAYING BILLIARDS AT A BAR MAN POURING WINE IN GLASS HAND SHOOTING BILLIARD BALL MEN DRINKING BEETROOT WINE (SOUNDBITE) (Kinyarwanda) BAR CUSTOMER, JANVIER MUHOZA SAYING: "It (beetroot wine) doesn't really get you drunk like when you drink other type of alcohol. It just gives you a little buzz, it's really tasty." (SOUNDBITE) (Kinyarwanda) BAR CUSTOMER, GANDIKA J.BOCO SAYING: "What I like about this wine is its price. The price is not too high or too low, it's just right, it's a price that is affordable by most people, and it's quite affordable compared to imported wines." CUSTOMERS POURING BEETROOT WINE IN GLASS BEETROOT WINE BRING POURED INTO WINE BAR CUSTOMERS CHEERING AS THEY DRINK BEETROOT WINE
- Embargoed: 19th October 2018 17:20
- Keywords: Beetroot wine entrepreneur winemaking Karisimbi
- Location: RUBAVU, RWANDA
- City: RUBAVU, RWANDA
- Country: Rwanda
- Topics: Living / Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00190SINO7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: It's a cool morning in Rubavu district in Western Rwanda, and Assumpta Uwamariya and her employees are busy harvesting beetroot in her farm.
With its rich, earthy flavour and vibrant colour, beetroot is commonly consumed as a cooked vegetable in Rwanda.
But for Uwamariya, this is the main ingredient for her successful red wine known as Karisimbi.
The idea of using beetroot to make red wine came after Uwamariya struggled to find a job after graduation.
"The idea came right after I finished university and couldn't find a job. I realised that there were many people looking for jobs and there were no jobs. So, I started thinking of doing something unique and innovative, so I decided to start farming beetroots. I first started making beetroot juice, but then I met someone online who trained me on how to make beetroot wine," she said.
Uwamariya grows beetroot on a three-hectare farm and also buys from local farmers in the Ruvabu district.
The beetroot is then washed and cut into small pieces, boiled and left to ferment. The result is a red wine, which contains 18 percent by volume.
Uwamariya says she produces around 620 litres a week and sells between 900 and 1100 bottles every month, retailing at 8 USD a bottle.
While most of Uwamariya's customers are from Rwanda, Mozambique and neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, Uwamariya says she is surprised to see how far wide Karisimbi has reached.
"I have many customers outside of Rwanda. I have customers in Congo, Mozambique. I also found out that I have customers in Germany. I don't know how my wine got there, but they told me that they tasted my wine and started ordering from me afterwards. Some of them even came all the way here to see me and buy wine," she said.
Although wine made from bananas and grapes is typically the drink for many Rwandans, beetroot wine has become national favourite, especially for its flavour and affordability.
Karisimbi wines are sold in bars in the capital Kigali and four retail stores in the city, as well as the western town of Mahoko, near the Congolese border.
"It (beetroot wine) doesn't really get you drunk like when you drink other types of alcohol. It just gives you a little buzz, it's really tasty," said one bar customer Janvier Muhoza.
"What I like about this wine is its price. The price is not too high or too low, it's just right, it's a price that is affordable by most people, and it's quite affordable compared to imported wines," said another bar customer Gandika J Boco.
In addition to beetroot wine, Umariya's company Karisimbi Wines Limited also makes pineapple and banana wine.
Uwamariya, who currently employs 17 people hopes to expand her beetroot wine production by 1,300 litres a week by next year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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