Between U & I raises glass to connection with Rupert & Rothschild
Laone Choeunyane | Tuesday August 18, 2026 10:28
On Saturday, Between U & I’s #BetweenTheToast series delivered the latter, bringing together good food, exceptional wine and an intimate crowd for an evening that felt as much like a social occasion as it did a tasting. The latest installment celebrated Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons, the renowned Franschhoek estate.
Its Global Sales and Marketing Manager, Carla Malherbe, hosted guests through an evening centred on the estate’s signature trio of Baroness Nadine Chardonnay, Classique and Baron Edmond.
Served alongside a selection of tapas, the wines gave the evening a distinctly indulgent character.
Glasses were filled, plates circulated and conversations stretched across the tables as guests settled into an atmosphere that was polished without feeling overly formal.
For Between U & I, that balance is at the heart of what the #BetweenTheToast series is trying to create: a place where food and drink are not simply served, but become the reason people slow down, connect and enjoy the company around them.
Malherbe said that sense of connection is equally important to Rupert & Rothschild.
“Everything that we do is with that word of collaboration, partnership, connection, community,” she stated.
Malherbe explained that the brand’s approach is not simply about presenting its wines and talking about their origins, but about creating opportunities to share the stories behind them.
“For us it’s all about connection, and this type of environment is beautiful for a brand like us, because we want to share stories.”
And the setting on Saturday made that philosophy easy to understand.
Rather than the formality that can sometimes accompany premium wine events, the evening unfolded naturally. Guests sampled the wines with carefully matched bites, moved between conversations and enjoyed the occasion at their own pace.
There was, inevitably, a sense of luxury to it. Rupert & Rothschild’s wines occupied centre stage, with the Baron Edmond and Baroness Nadine Chardonnay among the bottles being poured, while the food kept the evening grounded in the simple pleasure of eating well.
It was this combination that gave the gathering its character: expensive wines without the stiffness, beautifully presented food without the fuss, and a venue full of people with plenty to talk about.
For Between U & I, that is perhaps the point. The #BetweenTheToast series continues to turn dining into an experience built around people as much as what is on the table.
On Saturday, the toast was to Rupert & Rothschild. But ultimately, the evening was about something broader; food, wine, stories and the kind of company that makes a good night linger long after the last glass is empty.