Special Feature
For years, South Africa’s Cape region has been synonymous with producing and marketing some of the finest wines, and in the process, exciting consumer palettes and markets around the world. Now, there is a growing number of women entrepreneurs in the country who are building exciting businesses and brands in the wine industry, winning legions of local and global fans along the way.
Meet 4 of South Africa’s most exciting women entrepreneur winemakers and brand builders who are making their voices heard through their beautiful wines.
Ntsiki Biyela, founder of Aslina Wines
As South Africa’s first black female winemaker, Ntsiki Biyela has forged a path to become one of the most recognised names in the world of wine. In 2016, she established Aslina Wines, inspired by the strength and determination of the biggest influence in her life, her grandmother. Today, Aslina is renowned for its range of premium wines and is the realisation of Ntsiki’s dream to create an exceptional world-class brand. Ntsiki grew up in Mahlabathini, a rural village in Kwazulu Natal, and matriculated from high school in 1996. Having spent a year as a domestic worker, she was awarded a scholarship to study winemaking in 1999. She graduated in 2003 with a BSc in Agriculture (Viticulture and Oenology) at Stellenbosch University and joined boutique winery Stellekaya Wines the following year. Ntsiki’s ambition to create her own wines grew following a collaboration with Californian winemaker, Helen Kiplinger, as part of Mika Bulmash’s Wine for the World initiative. In addition, she has consulted in France, making wine under Winemakers Collection in Bordeaux. Finally, she sits on the board of directors for the Pinotage Youth Development Academy, which provides technical training and personal development for young South Africans in the Cape Winelands, preparing them for work in the wine industry. The programme offers them the unique opportunity to emulate her own considerable success. Ntsiki has won a number of awards for her business. She was 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. In 2017, Ntsiki was listed in the world's top 10 most Innovative Women in Food and Drink by Fortune’s Food & Wine.
South Africa's Ntsiki Biyela of Aslina Wines wins Gold Medal at the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards 2018 - Lionesses of Africa
In one of the most competitive line-ups in the 22 year history of the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirts Awards, South Africa's winemaker and founder of Aslina Wines, Ntsiki Biyela, has good news to share. Aslina Wines has just been awarded a Gold Medal at the Michelangelo Internationa
Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses’fikile Wines
The business journey for wine brand builder Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses’fikile Wines has been one which has seen her make the transition from teacher by training to the entrepreneur she is today. Her niche wine brand, Ses’fikile, meaning, `We have arrived` is a trademarked brand owned by her company. At Ses’fikile, Nondumiso works with a passionate team of wine makers and a viticulturist who helps to bring the beautiful Ses’fikile wine range to life. Nondumiso personally selects the grape and blends for the product portfolio and is directly responsible for taking the product to market. She is assisted by a team of young people who work with her to arrange the all important marketing activities and tastings, etc. She says of her entrepreneurial journey to build her brand and business: “Ses’fikile means ‘we have arrived’. These three words are built on a foundation of personal and communal struggle, yet they also look forward positively, with the hope of a better future.” Nondumiso is on a mission to change the stereotype that indigenous brands don’t work in the wine industry and wants Ses’fikile Wines to be an indigenous brand of note in the future, a brand that celebrates and trumpets the African Renaissance.
Nondumiso Pikashe, a South African entrepreneur creating a proud indigenous wine brand - Lionesses of Africa
Exciting things are happening in South Africa's winelands with a new generation of entrepreneurs making great wines for the local and global market place and building new brands to watch. Ses'fikile Wines , founded by Nondumiso Pikashe, is one such brand with high aspirations.
Malmsey Rangaka, co-founder and ceo of M’hudi Wines
Malmsey Rangaka is the matriarch and life-force of M’hudi Wines. She has headed the Rangaka family for over thirty years, and today the family are the founders of the M'hudi brand and the main characters in the M'hudi Boutique Wines adventure. Having left their successful professional careers they settled down to learning new and specialized skills of viticulture and wine making to establish the now blossoming M'hudi Brand. Malmsey encouraged the family to look beyond the familiar in their quest for an alternative life style and galvanized all of them into accepting that life can be much more exciting if you take risks. M’hudi comes from the Setswana word, ‘Mohudi’ which means ‘harvester’. A great African story tells the tale of a heroine, M’hudi, who fled her war torn home in search of a new beginning. M'hudi symbolises strength, courage, the relentless pursuit of one's dreams against impossible odds - and the celebration of a hard-earned triumph.
MHUDI Wines - Premium Online Wine Store, Buy South African Wines
M'hudi comes from the Setswana word, 'Mohudi' which means 'harvester'. A great African story tells the tale of a heroine, M'hudi, who fled her war torn home in search of a new beginning. M'hudi symbolises strength, courage, the relentless pursuit of one's dreams against impossible odds - and the celebration of a hard-earned truimph.
Mbali Ngiyi, founder of Ngiyi Mbali Wines
Behind every great wine is a great story, and that is certainly the case with the exciting South African wines being created by Ngiyi Mbali Brands. Founder Mbali Masike brings her own personality and taste profiles into each individual wine she creates, sharing stories and creating memories for her customers. At Ngiyi Mbali Wines, they have a selection of wines that are produced in Paarl in the Western Cape, offering customers a choice of two Reds, two Red blends, a Chardonnay and a Rosè. All the wines have a unique story behind them. The Pinotage is the most personal and special wine to Mbali as it’s her signature wine. She had the most input when this one was made. Even though her mentor did not agree much with her when they made this Pinotage, when it was launched he called her a dark horse and that’s where it gets it name from today - Dark Angel PInotage.
LIONESS LAUNCH: Mbali Masike, founder of NgiyiMbali Wines, launches exciting new wine brand in South Africa - Lionesses of Africa
ngiyiMbali Wines is a newly launched, family-owned range of wines in South Africa, founded by entrepreneur Ngiyi Mbali. It has always been Mbali's dream to become a winemaker. A little over 5 years ago Mbali tasted a bottle of wine and she fell in love with it.