Dodoma sits at around 1,100 metres on a dry, sunny plateau, conditions that turn out to suit vines surprisingly well. The wineries on the southern outskirts of the city — Cetawico, Tanganyika Vineyards, and several smaller operations — produce most of Tanzania's domestic wine, from dry whites and reds to the famously sweet fortified Dodoma Red.
The wine is rarely going to win prizes against South African or European bottles, but visiting the wineries is an unexpected pleasure: rows of vines under hard sunlight, dusty cellars, and a tasting at the end. Drop-in tours are not really organised, but staff will usually show you around if you call ahead or simply turn up at a quiet time. Bring a bottle home — it's a cheap and slightly surreal souvenir.