Love and Wine: (on Netflix) A Delicious Slow Burn That Proves Good Things Take Time
- Sahndra Fon Dufe
- Jan 3
- 5 min read
A South African rom-com that's equal parts sexy, sweet, and stunning, featuring Masali Baduza and Ntobeko Sishi in a slow-burn romance you won't forget
Rating: ★★★★☆
South African cinema just delivered one of 2025's most charming rom-coms. And I'm not exaggerating when I say Love and Wine is a visual and emotional feast that deserves all your attention. Director Amanda Lane has crafted something special here, a film that takes the classic "rich person pretends to be poor" trope and infuses it with so much heart, humor, and stunning South African beauty that you'll forget you've seen this story before.
The Setup That Works
The premise is straightforward but charming: At an annual wine festival hosted by his father's company, privileged heir Memo (Ntobeko Sishi) makes a bet with his bff & driver: they'll swap identities to prove he can win love without his rich kid swag. Enter our leading lady, Amahle (Masali Baduza), a captivating med student he locks eyes with across the vineyard. It's love at first sight, that electric moment where the world stops spinning. But just as quickly as the connection sparks, she slips away into the crowd, leaving Memo enchanted and determined.
Fast forward, and our lovesick hero takes an ‘internship' at his father's company (you know, the one he technically already owns), where fate-or-excellent-screenwriting keeps crossing his path with hers. Now fully committed to the charade, he hides his wealth to win her heart on equal footing. Yes, we know where this is heading. Yes, we know the lie will unravel spectacularly. But here's the thing: Love and Wine isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. It's giving us that wheel dipped in Cape Town sunlight, rolled through vineyards, and served with a side of genuine chemistry that makes the familiar feel fresh.
Casting Magic: Where Did They Find These People?!
Can we just take a moment to appreciate the casting director? Because “Wow!” They assembled a group of actors so attractive and talented that it should be illegal.
Masali Baduza (who you might recognize from The Woman King) is absolutely stunning. I'm talking about chocolate skin that looks like she bathes in cocoa butter (that actually smells like cocoa butter) just glowing, radiant, gorgeous. And that waistline? Please. Then comes THAT scene, you know the one where she appears in a dangerously gorgeous red dress. It's giving femme fatale. It's giving confidence. It's giving "Yes, I know exactly what I'm doing to you." We're full-on fangirling here.
Ntobeko Sishi (who plays the rich kid Memo pretending to be poor) has this sexy metro-urban vibe. He's giving Nigeria's heartthrob Timini Egbuson energy but with even more edge and swagger. Slightly younger, ridiculously handsome, and that modern African masculinity that's impossible to look away from. Even the other guy pretending to be rich is hot! The casting director truly understood the assignment.
And the supporting cast? Chef's kiss. Thando Thabethe (who we loved in How to Ruin Christmas) brings both dramatic chops and impeccable comic timing. She's the kind of actress who can make you cry and laugh in the same scene.
Then there's Desmond Dube, another How to Ruin Christmas alum and Hotel Rwanda veteran, who delivers comedy gold throughout the film. That man and the absolutely RIDICULOUS rat chase scene? Chef's kiss. It's the kind of physical comedy chaos that Dube has perfected, the’ C’ in Comedy might as well stand for his name. Whether it's this film or his other work, the man knows how to steal a scene and leave you gasping for air from laughter.
This ensemble feels like the spiritual successor to Netflix's beloved Forever series. There's that same energy, likeable, attractive people you genuinely want to spend time with.
Chemistry That Sizzles
The chemistry between Baduza and Sishi is electric. The kind that makes you grin at your screen like an absolute fool even when you know exactly what's about to happen. Sishi brings charm and vulnerability to Memo that makes his increasingly ridiculous lies somehow endearing rather than infuriating. And Baduza? She's magnetic, giving her character depth and agency while never falling into the trap of being just the object of affection.
The slow burn between them is masterfully paced. Lane understands that rushing romance is like drinking wine too fast, you miss all the subtle notes. Every lingering glance, every almost-touch, every moment of yearning and "Should I tell her the truth?" builds on the last until you're practically shouting at the screen.
And here's what's refreshing: this is romance without the crass. Unlike some recent offerings (cough Beauty in Black cough), Love and Wine proves you don't need hours of soft porn to create heat. The yearning, the tension, the slow burn…it's all there, simmering beautifully beneath the surface. You feel the attraction between all the parallel couples in the story, and the film's sweet irony is that it proves attraction isn't just about money or status. Connection, chemistry, personality, those things matter.
A Love Letter to South Africa
But what truly elevates Love and Wine beyond your standard rom-com is its setting. The Western Cape is practically a third lead character. The cinematography is breathtaking. Vineyard scenes bathed in golden hour light, Cape Town's vibrant streets, intimate moments framed against mountain vistas—every shot feels intentional and lush. The colors pop with an energy that makes you want to book a flight to South Africa immediately.
Romance Meets Comedy—Perfectly Balanced
Here's something rare: Love and Wine is genuinely funny. Not just rom-com cute, but laugh-out-loud hilarious. The script balances romantic yearning with comedic chaos as the lies spiral in increasingly absurd (but never unbelievable) ways. One minute you're swooning, the next you're cackling at the ridiculousness of it all.
The supporting cast elevates every comedic moment. Thabethe and Dube in particular steal scenes with their timing and delivery. But the humor never undercuts the romance. The film understands that real relationships are built on laughter as much as longing.
The Sweet Payoff
What makes Love and Wine truly satisfying is that it delivers on its promises. Both our boys get what they want in the end, not through deception but through growth and honesty. The film's message is clear: money can open doors, but it can't create genuine connection. The parallel love stories weave together beautifully, each one proving that attraction, personality, and real connection trump status and wealth every time.
By the end, you believe in every couple, you've laughed more than you expected, and you're left with that warm, fuzzy feeling that only the best rom-coms can deliver. It's the kind of movie that reminds you why we love love stories in the first place.
Final Sip
Love and Wine is proof that you don't need to reinvent genres to create something wonderful. You just need talented actors, a director with vision, a gorgeous location, and genuine heart. This is a film that knows what it is and executes it beautifully.
It's cozy, it's sexy, it's funny, it's touching, and it's one of those rare rom-coms where you'll actually believe in the love story. Perfect for a date night, a girls' night-in, or honestly, any night when you need to remember why we love love stories in the first place.
The slow burn pays off. The colors dazzle. The chemistry sizzles. And by the end, you'll be wishing you could stay in this world just a little bit longer.
Best enjoyed with: A glass of South African wine, your favorite person, and a willingness to believe in the magic of slow-burn romance.
Bottom line: Love and Wine is the comfort watch we all need—heartfelt and utterly charming. Don't miss it.
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