Opening event held at Phoenix by Pitstop, Ikoyi.
LAGOS, Nigeria — September 21, 2026 — Hitchcock Wine, the premium wine brand founded by Fiona Hitchcock, has officially launched in Nigeria with a two-day blind tasting experience, the first of which took place on Thursday, September 17, at Phoenix by Pitstop, a premium fine dining restaurant in Ikoyi. The second day opened at Victoria Island’s Inspiro Cafe on Saturday, September 19. The intimate launch brought together a select community of wine enthusiasts for an introduction to Hitchcock Wine’s curated portfolio of South African and French wines.
Suffused with a philosophy that premium wine is not determined solely by labels but the flavour profile each bottle holds, Hitchcock Wine invited guests at the blind tasting to experience a choice of wines without knowing their identity, encouraging them to assess each pour through aroma, flavour, body, balance, and finish before the labels were revealed. The structure created a relaxed but engaging conversation around taste, perception, and the personal nature of wine appreciation.
Speaking on the launch, Fiona Hitchcock said: “South African wines are often overlooked in favour of their more established French counterparts, despite the exceptional quality coming out of South Africa today. I wanted this tasting to challenge that perception in a simple way: put remarkable French and South African wines in the glass, remove the labels, and let the wine speak for itself. That spirit of discovery is at the heart of Hitchcock Wine. We are bringing exceptional wines to Nigeria and helping discerning drinkers discover bottles and producers they may not otherwise encounter.”
Driven by quality, authenticity, the history behind every label, and the increasingly refined palate of consumers, the Nigerian wine landscape has continued to evolve, with industry estimates putting the country’s wine market somewhere between $400 million and $420 million, with an annual consumption of more than 50 million bottles. That evolution has also reflected in the way premium consumers increasingly approach luxury. For a growing audience, the appeal is extending beyond the visibility of a brand to the quality, provenance, craftsmanship and experience behind it.
It is within this changing landscape that Hitchcock Wine is positioning itself — not simply as another wine business entering the market, but as a connoisseur committed to creating more intentional experiences around premium wine.
The launch reflected that philosophy. With the influence of branding and price temporarily removed, guests were encouraged to trust their own palates, compare impressions, and discover that personal preference can sometimes challenge expectation.
Beyond its portfolio, Hitchcock Wine plans to build its presence in Nigeria through curated tastings, premium gifting offerings, personalised recommendations and intimate experiences that encourage consumers to learn more about the wines they drink and the stories behind them.
As Nigeria’s wine culture continues to develop, Hitchcock Wine enters the market with an invitation to slow down, taste with intention and experience premium wine beyond the bottle.
About Hitchcock Wine
Hitchcock Wine is a premium wine business founded by Fiona Hitchcock, specialising in the curation of exceptional South African and French wines for the Nigerian market. Through carefully selected wines, personalised recommendations and exclusive experiences, Hitchcock Wine is committed to making premium wine appreciation more intentional, informed and memorable.
