A Vintage Year: How Netflix’s ‘Love and Wine’ Bottles the South African Spirit for a Global Stage

In South Africa, the end of the year is not just a season; it is a lifestyle. It is a time defined by sun, celebration, and the migration of the country’s social elite to the coastlines and vineyards of the Western Cape. It is fitting, then, that Netflix has chosen this specific cultural moment to uncork its latest South African original feature, Love and Wine.

Premiering globally on the streaming giant, the film arrives with the weight of high expectations. It is not merely a holiday rom-com; it is a stress test for Netflix’s evolving strategy of “glocalization”—taking successful formats from one emerging market and adapting them for another.

Produced by the Peabody Award-winning Quizzical Pictures, Love and Wine adapts the Brazilian hit Ricos de Amor (Rich in Love), trading the tomato farms of South America for the lush, sun-drenched vineyards of Stellenbosch. But to view it simply as a remake would be to overlook the significant cultural alchemy at play.

The Narrative: Old Tropes, New Terroir

The premise is a tale as old as time (or at least as old as Shakespeare): the Prince and the Pauper, reimagined for the Instagram generation.

Ntobeko Sishi, who has cemented his status as South Africa’s leading young heartthrob following his breakout in Gomora, stars as Owethu “Ovee” Sityebi. Ovee is the privileged scion of the Sityebi wine dynasty—a young man charming enough to get what he wants, but restless enough to want what he can’t buy: authenticity.

When Ovee crosses paths with Amahle (played by the internationally acclaimed Masali Baduza), the friction is instant. Amahle is a dedicated medical student, grounded, ambitious, and deeply skeptical of the idle rich. To win her over without the crutch of his family name, Ovee instigates the classic switch: he trades places with his best friend and driver, Nathi (newcomer Thandolwethu Zondi).

“The premise allows for a comedy of errors, but the South African setting adds a layer of class complexity that feels distinct. In a country where wealth gaps are visual and visceral, the ‘rich boy acting poor’ trope lands with a sharper comedic edge.”

— Sarah Jacobs, Film Critic, The Cape Times

Naturally, the ruse spirals. While Ovee struggles with the realities of a working-class existence to woo Amahle, Nathi finds himself seduced by the high life—and by Lena (Thando Thabethe), the winery’s razor-sharp marketing manager who suspects something is amiss.

Casting the “New Establishment”

If Love and Wine succeeds, it will largely be due to the shrewd casting by Quizzical Pictures. The ensemble represents a convergence of South Africa’s acting royalty and its rising stars.

The Leads

Ntobeko Sishi (Ovee): Sishi brings a necessary vulnerability to the role. Often cast in intense dramatic roles, this film allows him to flex his comedic muscles and leverage his natural charisma.
Masali Baduza (Amahle): Baduza is a significant “get” for the production. Having starred in global hits like The Woman King and Bridgerton, her presence signals Netflix’s intent to market this film to US and UK audiences, not just local ones.
Thando Thabethe (Lena): Thabethe is arguably the MVP of the South African rom-com genre (How to Ruin Christmas). Her role as the suspicious, ambitious manager provides the film’s comedic engine, balancing the sentimental romance of the leads.

The Supporting Pillars

The film is grounded by Bongile Mantsai (Knuckle City, The Wound) as Mr. Sityebi, the stern patriarch. Mantsai, usually known for gritty, arthouse cinema, bringing gravitas to a commercial rom-com elevates the material significantly.

Production & Setting: The Cape as a Character

Director Amanda Lane (Isibaya) has made a deliberate choice to lean into the “gloss.” Working with a top-tier cinematography team, the film is a visual love letter to the Western Cape.

The production takes full advantage of the region’s “Golden Hour.” Aerial shots of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the geometric perfection of the vineyards, and the historic Cape Dutch architecture serve two purposes: they ground the story in a real place, and they act as a potent tourism advertisement.

However, the setting is not just cosmetic. By situating the Sityebi family as owners of a major wine estate, the film quietly nods to the transformation of the South African wine industry.

A Cultural Shift

Historically, wine farming in the Cape was the exclusive domain of white landowners. The Sityebi family represents a modern reality: the rise of black-owned wine labels and estates. While the film is lighthearted, this representation matters. It places a black family not just in the lap of luxury, but at the helm of a sophisticated, legacy-driven business.

The Netflix Strategy: The “Remake” Economy

Why adapt a Brazilian film for South Africa?

According to media analysts, this is a data-driven move by Netflix. Brazil and South Africa share striking similarities: vibrant cultures, significant wealth disparities, and audiences that devour romantic comedies and soap operas (telenovelas).

A format that worked in São Paulo is statistically likely to work in Johannesburg, provided the cultural translation is handled with care.

Feature	Rich in Love (Brazil)	Love and Wine (South Africa)
Industry	Tomato Farming / Agribusiness	Wine Making / Viticulture
Theme	“Tomato King” Legacy	“Wine Estate” Prestige
Core Conflict	Rural vs. Urban	Tradition vs. Modernity
Tone	Telenovela Melodrama	Polished Rom-Com

This strategy allows Netflix to produce high-quality local content with a “proven” script structure, reducing the risk associated with original intellectual property.

Behind the Camera: The Quizzical Touch

The involvement of Quizzical Pictures ensures that Love and Wine is technically proficient. Known for high-stakes dramas like Intersexions and Rhythm City, Quizzical has been pivoting toward premium streaming content.

The script was adapted by a team including Darryl Bristow-Bovey and Zelipa Zulu. This pairing is significant. Bristow-Bovey is known for his wit and observational humor, while Zulu brings a deep understanding of local vernacular and social dynamics.

Early Buzz and Expectations

With the film’s arrival, social media buzz in South Africa is palpable. The trailer has already garnered millions of views across TikTok and YouTube, with fans dissecting the chemistry between Sishi and Baduza.

However, the film faces a challenge. South African audiences are becoming increasingly discerning. The “Netflix Gloss”—a critique that some local productions look too Americanized and lack grit—is a common complaint. Love and Wine will need to prove that it has a local soul beneath its high-budget sheen.

Verdict: A Toast to the Holidays

Love and Wine appears to be exactly what the doctor ordered for the festive season. It is escapism in its purest form—beautiful people, in beautiful places, dealing with low-stakes problems that we know will be resolved with a kiss by the time the credits roll.

But beyond the fluff, it is a marker of a maturing industry. It demonstrates that South African cinema can do “slick” and “commercial” just as well as Hollywood. It showcases a new generation of actors who are ready for the global spotlight.

So, grab a glass of Pinotage, settle in, and prepare to be charmed. If Love and Wine is anything to go by, South African storytelling is aging very well indeed.

Fast Facts: Love and Wine

Premiere Date: December 3, 2025
Platform: Netflix (Global Release)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes
Director: Amanda Lane
Production Company: Quizzical Pictures
Filming Locations: Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch & Franschhoek), Western Cape
Key Cast:
- Ntobeko Sishi as Owethu “Ovee” Sityebi
- Masali Baduza as Amahle
- Thandolwethu Zondi as Nathi
- Thando Thabethe as Lena
Did You Know? The film is an official South African adaptation of the 2020 Brazilian Netflix hit Rich in Love (Ricos de Amor), which starred Danilo Mesquita and Giovanna Lancellotti.

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