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Driven by an appreciation for local quality and world-class design-led living, more South Africans are investing in premium experiences that bring luxe bar energy into their own homes. “People are curating their lives and spaces with intent,” says Trevor Brewer, Director at consumer technology specialist Solenco. “They want elegance, but on their own terms.”
South Africa stands out in the leading markets for luxury growth at 15% expected growth in 2025, alongside Sweden (12%), India (10%), and the United Arab Emirates (9%) according to Euromonitor International. As the research shows that affluence rises and consumer tastes shift when it comes to both luxury products and luxury experiences, local purchases of wines priced above R200 per bottle more than doubled between 2020 and 2024 and whisky has become the country’s most popular spirit. At the same time, South Africa’s small home appliance market is booming, with its value projected to reach nearly $460 million by 2030.
So, once the wine or spirit of choice and technology is in place – the wine decanter and chiller, the ice maker – what else do you need? To start with, glassware matters. Tulip-shaped glasses help whisky breathe, flutes keep bubbles lively, and curved bowls bring out the aromas in wine. The finer the crystal, the fancier the effect.
But atmosphere isn’t just about what’s poured. It’s also about how it feels: the right playlist (think amapiano or light jazz), soothing lighting, and food pairings that are simple yet thoughtful. Try mature cheddar, roasted nuts, and dark chocolate with whisky; smoked salmon crostini with a dry white wine; and feta, olives and prosciutto-wrapped melon with rosé. Have more fun with cocktails – a mix of sweet and sour, herbal and fruity, and don’t forget some spice.
Across Instagram and TikTok, home bartending creators are calling garnishes “the outfit of the drink” – the final detail that makes a cocktail feel intentional rather than improvised.
This summer’s standout looks lean into drama and aroma: charred citrus twists that release scent as you sip, blood orange and grapefruit wheels for a sunset-toned palette, and rims dusted with citrus-infused salts or sugars. Herb sprigs are going bold too, less parsley garnish, more garden couture – adding texture, scent and visual theatre to every pour.
One cocktail that continues to trend across TikTok and Instagram Reels is the Hugo Spritz – a light, aromatic cocktail made with prosecco, elderflower liqueur, soda water and fresh mint. It’s refreshing, easy to batch, and ideal for warm-weather entertaining where the mood is relaxed but refined.
Brewer says Solenco has recognised this shift toward premium but practical home entertaining with the creation of Solenco Life, a sub-brand designed to elevate the experience without complicating it.
The range centres on three hero pieces that turn the ordinary into something refined: a Precision Bottle Wine Cooler that keeps wines and bubbles perfectly chilled and ready to pour; a Precision Wine Cooler and Decanter that aerates wine and holds it at its ideal serving temperature so that every glass tastes as good as the first; and the Sphere Ice Maker, which creates crystal-clear, slow-melting ice spheres that don’t dilute flavours while instantly give any drink a high-end, cocktail-bar feel.
“These products accommodate how South Africans now live and entertain,” explains Brewer. “We’re spending more time at home, but we still want sophistication. This range of award-winning, imported home technology makes this possible while still being beautiful and efficient.”
Summer in South Africa hits differently. The warm days stretch long, the sunsets show off, and the mood shifts. “People are choosing personal over public, experience over excess. Elegant gatherings that blur the line between home and high-end hospitality. Sparkling conversations, perfect drinks, and the sense that every element has been chosen deliberately. The trend is clear: staying in is the new ‘night out’,” says Brewer.