This Women’s Month, we continue to look beyond the wine bottles and beautiful surroundings to meet five of the women helping Groot Constantia evolve – from the cellar and tasting rooms, to the finance office and crèche.
Their roles may be different, but each has found her own way of contributing to the life of one of South Africa's most treasured wine estates.
Amanda February — Chief Financial Officer
A heritage estate may be built on history, but keeping it thriving requires a careful eye on what comes next. Amanda February has been part of Groot Constantia since 2007, steadily growing into her role as Chief Financial Officer, where she oversees the financial and strategic decisions that help secure its future.
For Amanda, working with the numbers is ultimately about protecting something much larger.
“Every decision we make is about ensuring Groot Constantia remains financially strong while preserving what makes it so special,” she says.
It is this balance between preservation and progress that she finds most rewarding. Behind the historic architecture and celebrated wines is an organisation that needs to remain sustainable, relevant, and resilient.
“Every day I am reminded that I am part of something much bigger than myself,” Amanda says. “Our responsibility is not only to safeguard Groot Constantia’s legacy, but to ensure it continues to thrive.”
Elizabeth George — Cellar Team
Elizabeth George has spent 28 years learning the rhythms of wine. Her journey began among the vines before taking her into the cellar, where she has worked alongside generations of winemakers and gathered the kind of knowledge that can only come from experience.
For Elizabeth, no two vintages are quite the same – and that is precisely the appeal.
“I've never been afraid to ask questions,” she says. “You grow by learning from the people around you. There is always something new to discover, no matter how many years you've been doing the job.”
Harvest, naturally, remains a favourite. It is when the estate shifts into a different rhythm, with grapes arriving from the vineyards and the cellar filling with activity.
But Elizabeth's relationship with the cellar has also offered something more personal. During difficult periods in her life, the familiarity of the work and the people around her have provided a sense of purpose.
“There are days when life feels heavy, but coming to the cellar changes that,” she says. “Working with the wine, the aromas, the barrels and the people around me gives me purpose.”
Lorna Solomon — Visitor Experience
Some people have a talent for making a place feel welcoming. For more than two decades, Lorna Solomon has been doing exactly that at Groot Constantia.
Her role has grown considerably since she first joined the estate in wine sales. Today, she is involved in the visitor experience across the estate's museums, tasting rooms and historic spaces, helping guests understand the stories blended into the landscape.
“People arrive excited to visit South Africa’s National Treasure, and I believe it's our responsibility to make that experience unforgettable,” she says.
For Lorna, the joy lies in the conversations – whether she's discussing a wine, pointing out an architectural detail, or sharing a piece of the estate's history.
“Every part of the estate tells a different story,” she says. “I enjoy helping visitors connect the pieces, whether they're asking about the history, the architecture or the wines.”
Her connection to Groot Constantia extends beyond her working day, too. A keen poet, Lorna has written pieces inspired by the estate, capturing in words the atmosphere and beauty she encounters every day.
Shannon Jacobs — Assistant Winemaker
There is a sense of looking forward in Shannon Jacobs' story. A graduate of Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, she has already gained experience across South Africa, Austria, and the United Kingdom, before joining Groot Constantia in 2024.
Her attraction to winemaking lies in its combination of disciplines – part science, part agriculture, part creative instinct.
“What drew me to winemaking was that no two days are ever the same,” she says. “You're constantly learning, solving problems and creating something that people will ultimately share around a table.”
Her international harvest experiences have taught her resilience and adaptability, but joining one of the world's oldest wine brands offered an opportunity to put down some roots.
“Working for one of the oldest wine brands in the world was an opportunity I couldn't ignore,” she says. “I knew it was somewhere I could continue learning, work alongside experienced winemakers and grow over the long term.”
Named among WineLand Media's 30 Under 30 for 2026, Shannon represents a new generation of South African winemakers – ambitious, curious and global in their outlook, while still deeply connected to the land.
Siena Jordaan — Crèche Team
Some of the most meaningful work at an institution happens quietly. For Siena Jordaan, 27 years at Groot Constantia have been defined not by vineyards or wine, but by care.
Siena began her career in the kitchen before moving to the estate's crèche, where she has spent more than a decade caring for the children of Groot Constantia employees.
“I've always had a love for children,” she says. “Being able to care for them, help them learn, encourage their curiosity and watch them grow has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
Over the years, the crèche has become a small but important part of the wider Groot Constantia family, offering children a place to feel safe, seen, and cared for while their parents work.
For Siena, the relationships formed along the way have made the estate feel like home.
“This has never felt like just a job,” she says. “It has become my second home.”
As she prepares for retirement, her advice is wonderfully simple: “Whatever you do, do it with love.”
The people behind the place
Groot Constantia's story may be centuries old, but its legacy is anything but static. It is kept alive in the decisions made in an office, the careful work of a cellar, a conversation with a visitor, a young winemaker's ambition, and the everyday act of caring for a child.
Amanda, Elizabeth, Lorna, Shannon and Siena each represent a different part of that story. Together, they remind us that heritage isn't only found in grand buildings or bottles kept for special occasions. Sometimes, it is found in the people who dedicate years of their lives to making sure a place continues to matter.
