US investors are set to inject Rwf33 billion into a major vineyard estate near Volcanoes National Park, a project expected to expand grape growing and wine production while creating jobs and new opportunities in agriculture and tourism. The vineyard estate, which will span parts of Musanze, Burera and Nyabihu districts, is being developed as an integrated agricultural, winemaking and hospitality project. Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Jean-Guy Afrika last week joined a dinner in honour of the American co-founders of VINMUSA Vineyard Estate, hosted at the residence of the US Embassy Chief of Mission. ALSO READ: Govt tests new grape varieties to boost commercial farming Afrika said the investors became interested in vineyard development after years of tourism linked to gorilla trekking in the country. The project is being developed as an agritourism and hospitality destination, with plans to establish the country's first fine-wine estate and what its founders describe as Africa's highest-elevation commercial vineyard. Rwanda has created an extraordinary environment for investment and built one of Africa's most compelling high-end tourism destinations. We see an opportunity now to add something entirely new to that story: a world-class wine and hospitality estate rooted in Rwanda's land, people and extraordinary sense of place, said VINMUSA Founder, CEO and Creative Director Andres de la Roche. Three vineyard sites The first grape seedlings for wine production have been planted in the Kinigi and Nyange sectors of Musanze District. The project will be developed across three vineyard sites: Kinigi in Musanze, Lake Burera in Burera and Mount Karisimbi in Nyabihu. The three-site approach is intended to test how different elevations, volcanic soils and microclimates can influence wine production and help develop wines with a distinct local character. The Mount Karisimbi vineyard, at approximately 2,700 metres above sea level, is planned to become Africa's highest-elevation fine-wine vineyard. ALSO READ: First vineyard estate set to launch, boosting agritourism growth The Burera site will focus on premium red wine production, beginning with Pinotage, while Karisimbi is planned for premium white wine production. The Rwf33 billion investment will cover approximately 22 hectares of vineyards, a winery, nine luxury guest retreats and three suites, a Welcome Centre and Tasting Gallery, and an Experience Pavilion in Kinigi, alongside supporting infrastructure and technical development. The first phase is expected to cost about Rwf14.7 billion and will focus on Kinigi. It will include three guest retreats, the Welcome Centre and Tasting Gallery, the Experience Pavilion and a winery that will eventually process the first harvests. More than Rwf1.6 billion had already been invested by the time of the inaugural planting, according to de la Roche. The spending includes land acquisition, vineyard preparation and planting, architecture and engineering, technical viticulture work and establishing the company's initial team. Hospitality will be developed in partnership with Virunga Mountain Spirits, whose farm-to-fork restaurant, Kinigi Table, will serve as VINMUSA's food and beverage partner. Grape varieties The initial grape varieties include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage. Certified disease-free planting material was selected following soil sampling, climate studies and vineyard analysis conducted with technical guidance from South African wine industry specialists. The project is receiving technical guidance from Vinpro, South Africa's wine industry organisation, while Vititec, one of South Africa's leading grapevine nurseries, is supplying the certified vines. ALSO READ: The health benefits of grapes VINMUSA is also working with the Gold Youth Development Agency to create opportunities for young people, while partnerships with Bridge2Rwanda and the University of Rwanda's Busogo campus are being explored to support viticulture training. The firm is also working with women's agricultural cooperatives in preparing land in Kinigi, while young people and residents of Sunzu village in Lake Burera have been involved in seasonal employment linked to the project. De la Roche said South African specialists conducted soil sampling and climate studies before the sites and grape varieties were selected. We also chose disease-resistant cultivars because of the high moisture. But the amazing volcanic soils, the minerality in the soils, will really produce something that is authentically Rwandan — something very unique, not only in Africa but in the entire world, he said. 90,000 bottles annually At full development, the vineyard estate is targeting annual production of approximately 90,000 bottles of wine, Liam T. Dall, Co-Founder of VINMUSA, told The New Times. The approximately 4,000 vines planted in September represent only our initial planting. Additional varietals and vineyard acreage will be planted in phases over the coming years as we grow towards approximately 22 hectares (55 acres) under vine, he said. As this is Rwanda's first fine-wine vineyard, we are taking a careful, quality-first approach and will allow the vines and each of our three vineyard sites to determine the precise timing, he added. The first harvest is expected approximately three years after planting, with the first wines following thereafter, according to Jean de la Paix Manizabayo, an employee of the vineyard estate. Dall said the company was still developing staffing projections for the fully built estate, which will create employment across viticulture, winemaking, hospitality, food and beverage, tourism and estate operations. The project is already creating employment at the community level. To date, we have employed more than 30 local vineyard workers from communities in Kinigi and Burera to prepare the land and establish the vineyards, he said. The company has also hired a Hospitality Development Lead, a Vineyard Development Lead, and a Land and Government Relations Lead as part of its Rwandan leadership team. Dall said the project would create both permanent and seasonal jobs, as well as new skills and career pathways in viticulture, winemaking, hospitality and tourism. Great wine reflects the place it comes from, and for the first time we have the opportunity to explore what Rwanda can express through wine, he said. There is an emerging wine culture and growing production across East Africa, and Rwanda now has the opportunity to add something entirely its own to that story. Our goal is not to reproduce another wine region here — it is to understand these extraordinary elevations, soils and microclimates and, over time, produce wines that are unmistakably Rwandan, he added. Local residents have welcomed the project, citing employment opportunities. We expect a lot from the project since it is a job opportunity for local residents, said Evariste Ntirenganya, a resident of Kinigi Sector in Musanze District. In May 2026, Assinapol Ndereyimana, Horticulture Programme Coordinator at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), said the country's tropical highlands could potentially allow two harvests a year, unlike temperate regions that typically have one. The first harvest is expected in the third year after planting, although yields will initially be low as the vines develop. In Year 3, production is about 2.5 tonnes per hectare. This is normal as vines are still young. By Year 5, full production is expected, with yields rising to around 10 tonnes per hectare, he said. The country imported nearly 4,000 tonnes of grapes worth about Rwf8.4 billion between 2017 and 2020. Increased local production could reduce reliance on imports, save foreign exchange and create new opportunities for exports, including wine.
