Bringing the world's finest wine to Kenya's best tables.
East Africa's luxury hospitality market is booming, and the premium wine platform to serve it hasn't been built yet.
Amala Imports is building it, and I’m inviting a small circle of people to be part of it from the start.
What we do
Amala Imports brings wine from more than 25 European producers to Kenya's best tables. These are growers in France, Italy, Spain and Germany whose harvests I've worked and whose cellars I know.
In fourteen months we've built 26 trade accounts, including JW Marriott, Sankara, Sarova, Serena, Radisson Blu and the Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara.
Five pallets are in Nairobi, four more are paid for and ready to ship, and Mel's, our wine shop and tasting space in New Muthaiga, opens in late 2026.
Why Nairobi, why now.
Africa will be home to about 1.7 billion people by 2030, the youngest population on earth, with millionaires projected to grow 65% over the next decade.
Kenya drew a record $3.2B in foreign direct investment in 2025, more than double 2022.
Nairobi has about 4,400 resident millionaires, the fourth-largest concentration in Africa.
East Africa's top safari lodges charge $2,000–5,000+ a night, and their guests expect world-class wine.
Kenya's roughly 160 high-end accounts are served today by generalist distributors.
Everyone chasing this looks at Cape Town, Lagos and Accra.
Kenya is where serious capital has already decided East Africa's future is being built, and for premium wine it's still close to a blank canvas.
Who I am
I'm Aline, born in Rwanda, with a career built between Canada and Europe. I trained with WSET and the Court of Master Sommeliers, spent seventeen years in hospitality and fine dining, and worked harvests across Burgundy, Champagne, the Loire, Piedmont, the Mosel and Priorat.
Welcome to the club
THE FOUNDERS CIRCLE
The Founders Circle is a founding membership, paid once, that gives you access to what I can offer and a wine shop can't: my time, my palate, my growers and my cellar.
It is a membership, not a share in the company.
Founders gatherings, four times a year
Every quarter I'm in North America, and I bring the circle together: a dinner, the wines that have just arrived, and an honest update on where Amala is, what's working and what's next. When I'm in Nairobi, members there join me at Mel's.
Journeys I lead
Grower journeys to Burgundy, Champagne and Piemonte, with cellar visits and lunches at the family table, and safari with serious wine in Kenya.
Bottles from my own cellar
Thank-you bottles for the higher tiers, and first access to the rarest ones when I release them.
Memberships
There are 38 places across five tiers, priced in USD. Each tier includes everything in the tier above it.
Members in Nairobi also get member pricing on Amala wine at Mel's.
20 places
-
A seat at all four Founders gatherings each year
First look when I release cellar bottles
Member price on journeys
Your name on the founders list
Friend
$1,000
8 places
-
A seat at all four Founders gatherings each year
First look when I release cellar bottles
Member price on journeys
Your name on the founders list
Two seats at every gathering, with first choice of date
A private dinner for 8 in your home, wines chosen and poured by me
A thank-you bottle from my cellar
Circle
$5,000
4 places
Grower's T able
$10,000
-
A seat at all four Founders gatherings each year
First look when I release cellar bottles
Member price on journeys
Your name on the founders list
Two seats at every gathering, with first choice of date
A private dinner for 8 in your home, wines chosen and poured by me
A thank-you bottle from my cellar
A grower journey for two: 3–4 days in Burgundy, Champagne or Piemonte, cellars, tastings and lunch with the growers
3 places
-
A seat at all four Founders gatherings each year
First look when I release cellar bottles
Member price on journeys
Your name on the founders list
Two seats at every gathering, with first choice of date
A private dinner for 8 in your home, wines chosen and poured by me
A thank-you bottle from my cellar
A grower journey for two: 3–4 days in Burgundy, Champagne or Piemonte, cellars, tastings and lunch with the growers
A safari-and-wine journey for two in Kenya
A private dinner in your home every year
A selection of cellar bottles, including Coche-Dury and Haut-Brion
Patron
$25,000
3 places,
by invitation
-
A seat at all four Founders gatherings each year
First look when I release cellar bottles
Member price on journeys
Your name on the founders list
Two seats at every gathering, with first choice of date
A private dinner for 8 in your home, wines chosen and poured by me
A thank-you bottle from my cellar
A grower journey for two: 3–4 days in Burgundy, Champagne or Piemonte, cellars, tastings and lunch with the growers
A journey built around you and your own group
First call on DRC, Raveneau and
Selosse when I release them
Your name on the founders' wall at Mel's
A standing place at every harvest I attend
Founding Partner
$50,000
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How it works
Joining
1
Tell me which tier you'd like. I confirm personally, then Amala Imports sends an invoice, payable by bank transfer in USD or EUR. Each membership comes with a short written agreement listing what you receive and when.
Journeys
2
Dates are set together. Travel and accommodation are arranged at cost and paid by the member.
Cellar bottles
3
Thank-you bottles come from my private cellar and are delivered or handed over where the rules allow.
Passing it on
4
This circle grows through people who know each other. If you know someone who'd love it, please send it to them.
Let’s get in touch
