SEDIBENG – He was always known as an exceptional photographer for all his life.

But his loss in business due to Covid-19 left the prominent photographer venturing into the wine industry.

Teboho ‘Canon’ Letsatsi has now turned into the holy waters, selling wine for a living.

When times turned bad, the 37-year-old sold what Mzansi is mostly buying.

The decision to start Letsatsi Winery has since turned him into a booming wine distributor and seller in the Vaal.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Letsatsi explained how his love for selling wine came about.

“As a wine lover, when I went to boozing places, I would not get the kind of wine I preferred and end up accommodating wine that didn’t suit my style. I then started researching a lot on how wine is manufactured and distributed, that’s how this dream began,” he said.

Adding on to what pushed the swift activation of his proposed business, Letsatsi said “This idea was also motivated by the financial headaches and slow business in my photography business. I then invested money on the idea instead of following a dying industry and that is how I began the journey of Letsatsi Winery.”

Hailing from Sebokeng, Letsatsi took advantage of clubs in his community and started marketing his product with them.

As a way to introduce his product and get it popularised, he dropped a number of wines at different nightlife joints.

Asked what made his wine loved and easily adapted to since the beginning, Letsatsi said the sweetness in his wine and alcohol volume made a demand for more of his brand.

“I started with as little as buying just two cases of wine. When I got another demand, that was where the case lots started increasing leading to multiplying what I started with,” he said.

Letsatsi said when the business turned bad in photography; he registered for the social grand relief of R350 which he used to buy his first batch of wine.

“Now I am making more than what I started with and Iam getting amazing feedback from my supporters and boozing outlets. I see the future of this business going very far, especially because there isn’t any other wine entrepreneur in my region. I would love to thank everyone who supported me and plead for their continued support,” he said.

Letsatsi said he is looking into buying lands and starting grape fields so he plans and produces his wine in his own wine lands.