Ethiopia in north-east africa can produce quite respectable red wine and some white from vines grown at relatively high elevations. The Awash winery in Addis Ababa, based on vineyards established by the Italian troops who occupied part of the country from 1936 to 1941, has been joined by a castel project with 162 ha/400 acres of vines planted between 2007 and 2009 near Ziway, 160 km/100 miles south of the capital. It sells international varietals under the brand names Rift Valley and Acacia from vineyards surrounded by a wide trench designed to deter pythons, hippopotamuses, and hyenas.
