Women have been making an increasingly significant impact in the wine industry in the Western Cape of South Africa, both as winemakers and as business owners. Here are a few examples of female leaders in wine business... Women who are dedicated to producing high-quality wines from the region. These women bring a fresh perspective and innovative ideas to the industry, helping to shape the future of winemaking in the Western Cape.
We hope you will support these inspiring women as much as they support this growing industry and their communities:
Carmen Stevens - Carmen Steven Wines
Carmen Stevens established the award-winning Carmen Stevens Wines in 2011. Notably, Carmen graduated as the first black South African to study the art of winemaking in South Africa and registered the first 100% black-owned winery in South Africa in the picturesque Stellenbosch in January 2019. Carmen’s wines can be tasted at The Wine Arc in Stellenbosch where they only stock black owned wine brands.
Besides producing top quality wines, Carmen provides a nutritious breakfast and lunch for over 25 000 learners from 125 schools in the Western Cape through their wonderful organisation, the Carmen Stevens NPO Community. We think this is cause for celebration!
Jamie Williams - Nederburg Wines
Cape Flats-born Jamie Williams is a well-known and recognised "woman in wine" at Nederburg Wines in Paarl as their assistant white-winemaker. Jamie has always had a keen interest in science, and after high school she studied Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at Stellenbosch University, where she took up a module on wine technology.
Jamie is certainly a woman to be inspired by and keep an eye on as we have no doubt that her future in the industry will be glorious!
Ntsiki Biyela - Aslina Wines
Ntsiki Biyela, born and raised in a rural village in Kwa-Zulu Natal, was awarded a scholarship to study winemaking at Stellenbosch University in 1999. She has, since then, opened her own winery, Aslina Wines; consulted wine farms in France; and has made a wine for the Winemakers’ Collection.
Besides receiving multiple awards for her own wines, she has also been voted Woman Winemaker of the Year in 2009 and has been the finalist for two consecutive years for The Most Influential Women in Business and Government. Great achievements all round!
Beverly Farmer and Katy December - Women in Wine
Beverly Farmer, co-founder and CEO of the Women in Wine range, together with Katy September, the chairperson of the Women in Wine Farm Workers Trust, is making huge strides for all WOMEN IN WINE! Coupled with a passion for the empowerment and upliftment of women, Beverly and Katy are committed to the development of their community by establishing crèches and youth development programs, amongst others.
If you are keen to support these wonderful women, they have a wide variety of superb wines available, ranging from their fruit Sauvignon Blanc to a full-bodied Merlot.
Berene Sauls - Tesselaarsdal Wines
Tesselaarsdal Wines was founded in 2015 by Berene Sauls, who was a long-standing employee of the well-known Hamilton Russell Vineyards. Together with the expert assistance of Hamilton Russell Vineyards wine maker, Emul Ross and the Hamilton Russell Vineyards team, Berene solely owns Tesselaarsdal Wines. The grapes for her Tesselaarsdal Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vintages are currently purchased from Babylon Vineyards, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge until Tesselaarsdal’s vineyards are secured and ready for harvest. In the meantime, you can purchase her wines online here: Shop - Tesselaarsdal Wines
Let us celebrate, support and be inspired by these wonderful women in the wine industry, not just in August but all year long.
This article was originally published on WOSA's blog, Cape Chatter.
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