The unthinkable combination of Nando’s peri-peri chicken and Dom Perignon was served at President Zuma’s inauguration last month, to criticism from the wine industry for the use of an imported French champagne instead of a local Cap Classique.

Despite flighting a controversial Nando’s ad campaign mocking Julius Malema, head of the ANC Youth League, just prior to the election, Nando’s was awarded the catering contract to serve 32 000 persons at the President’s inaugural lunch on the lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Even Barack Obama celebrated his win as presidential-elect with South Africa’s Graham Beck sparkling wine, it also having been served when Nelson Mandela was elected president.

The criticism by Franschhoek wine-maker Achim von Arnim, a well-known Pierre Jourdan sparkling wine producer at Cabriere in Franschhoek, about the celebratory drink served, is featured on the Wine magazine website in a You Tube video (http://www.winemag.co.za/article/achim-von-arnim-vs-jz-2009-05-15)