Love and Wine is Netflix’s latest foray into South African rom-com storytelling, and it does not hold back on charm, confusion, or chemistry.
Directed by Amanda Lane, the film takes familiar tropes – identity swaps, class tension, and unlikely romance – and stirs them into something light, fizzy, and full of layered sweetness. With beautiful visuals, slick editing, and characters you want to root for (and sometimes yell at), Love & Wine knows what it is: escapist, fun, and just grounded enough to hit some emotional chords.
Plot
The story of Love and Wine unfolds through the intertwined lives of two young men, Ovee Sityebi and Nathi Maseko. Ovee is the only heir to the prestigious Sityebi wine empire. Raised in wealth and privilege, Ovee has lived a protected life under the firm hand of his father, who runs the family business with discipline and high expectations. Despite his affluence, Ovee has grown up isolated, forbidden from having an online presence or public profile for security reasons. Nobody outside their circle even knows what he looks like.
Nathi, on the other hand, is the son of the family’s long-serving housekeeper. He’s humble, grounded, and works as Ovee’s personal driver. The two boys are close in age, practically grew up together, and despite their class differences, share a genuine friendship. Nathi, on the other hand, leads a modest life but dreams of becoming a chef, despite his family’s push for a more “respectable” future, one that involves a suit-wearing career.
One day, they get into a playful argument about charm vs. privilege. Nathi insists that Ovee’s way with women is entirely due to his money and status, not his personality. Ovee, irritated, decides to prove otherwise. At the annual Sityebi Wine Company party, they decide to swap identities: Ovee takes on Nathi’s name, and Nathi becomes Ovee Sityebi.
That’s when Ovee (posing as Nathi) meets Amahle, a young doctor doing her internship. She is smart, principled, and deeply resentful of the rich due to personal history. Her mother once worked for a wealthy family and was mistreated. Her father, a wealthy man, abandoned her mother after getting her pregnant. Amahle has carried that bitterness for years. So, when she meets “Nathi”, who she thinks is the son of a housekeeper, she’s instantly more open to him, seeing him as a humble man of modest background.
Meanwhile, Ovee decides he’s done being the pampered heir and wants to earn his stripes from the ground up. He tries to convince his dad to let him join the internship programme at one of the newly launched wine retail branches. But his father, completely unaware of the identity-switch plan, insists he take a top executive role at the company’s headquarters.
Ovee pushes back, determined to prove himself on his own terms. They strike a deal: if he finishes the internship as the best-performing intern, he earns a burnt-orange Lamborghini. If he fails, he must resume at the HQ, no questions asked. His father agrees, but as a twist, he cuts him off financially to really test his independence.
So, with the stakes sky-high and both boys living under fake names, they dive into their new roles. One’s soaking in unearned privilege, the other’s grinding hard in the shadows, and the pressure of pretending is about to boil over. A big pitch competition comes up, and each intern must present an innovative idea. Ovee (the real one) submits a creative, impactful proposal blending wine with culinary experiences and community outreach. But because he’s still seen as “Nathi”, his idea is brushed aside, and the credit is handed to Nathi (posing as Ovee) instead.
As the weeks go by, Ovee (still posing as Nathi) and Amahle begin to grow close. They bond over shared values, morning runs, yoga, long walks, street food, and their passion for community. Amahle shares her dream of working in underserved areas, especially the neighbourhood she grew up in, which turns out to be the same one where Ovee’s family lived before their wealth. He listens. He connects. He falls in love.
Things take a sharp turn when Dr Makoena, a fellow doctor and rival love interest who’s always had eyes on Amahle, spikes Ovee’s drink out of jealousy. That same day, Ovee is scheduled to attend both a board meeting and a beach party with Amahle and her friends. So he had to be switching outfits and locations frantically. The drugged drink throws everything into chaos. He embarrasses himself at both events, slurring, sweating, and acting erratically. He loses face completely. Amahle is disappointed and confused.
One of Amahle’s friends had seen Dr Makoena spike the drink but didn’t intervene, choosing instead to observe. The next day, she finally tells Amale the truth, and the situation becomes even more emotionally tangled.
It’s also the day of the intern award ceremony. Mr Sityebi Sr. is in attendance. The company is set to award the prize to the fake Ovee, but Mr. Sityebi insists the award go to whoever truly earned it, and to everyone’s shock, including his, “Nathi” (a.k.a. the real Ovi) is announced.
When he comes on stage, he begins to explain the identity swap and the reasons behind it. But before he can finish, Amahle walks in. She overhears part of the speech and feels betrayed. She lashes out, even questioning if his mother’s death was part of the lie and walks out on him. Devastated, Ovee spirals again.
Later, in a moment of unexpected tenderness, his father visits him and offers the Lamborghini. But Ovee turns it down. For the first time, father and son have an honest conversation about grief, the mother’s death, and how her loss affected them both. The father finally opens up about how she died, collapsing from an cancer because they couldn’t get her to a clinic in time. That moment strikes Ovee deeply.
He decides to do something meaningful: sell the Lamborghini and open a free clinic in the very neighbourhood his mother died in, the same neighbourhood where Amahle grew up.
Fast-forward one year. The clinic is up and running, focused on cancer support, employment, and accessible healthcare. Amahle walks in, shocked to learn it’s been named after Ovee’s late mother. The staff tell her they’ve been waiting for her.
At the annual wine company party, Ovee takes the stage to announce that they’re expanding the clinic model nationwide. Nathi is now a full-fledged chef, bringing Ovee’s wine-and-food pairing idea to life. The party is vibrant and full of meaning.
Amahle walks in. She sees the truth. She sees the growth. And finally, after everything, it’s a happy ending.
Cast
Ntobeko Sishi as Ovee is an absolute scene-stealer. From subtle eye movements to magnetic screen presence, he carries the role with effortless finesse. His chemistry with Masali Baduza (Amahle) feels authentic, warm, and, honestly, swoon-worthy.
Thandolwethu Olly Zondi (Go!) brings his A-game, delivering charm and comic relief playing Nathi. You can tell these are rising stars in the industry. The supporting cast, like Rosrisang Mohapi, June Van Merch, Bohang Moeko, and Thembsie Matu, were hilarious and energetic, and the spice the movie didn’t know it needed.
Language
The film is primarily in English, but flows naturally with a blend of Zulu.
Final take
The set design, wardrobe, and even wine aesthetics are luxe and well-thought-out. Every scene is curated like a wine ad, rich and full-bodied.
Love and Wine is that rom-com with layers. It’s not just about love or laughs; it dips into themes of legacy, grief, privilege, and redemption. It takes the good old identity-swap trope and gives it fresh legs with depth and direction.
Sure, it flirts with some unrealistic Hollywood-ish moments, but that’s part of its charm. It’s fictional, it’s festive, and it’s full of heart. So pour a glass and enjoy; this one’s worth the sip.
