Celebrating the women in wine who are flying high
Across valleys, vineyards, and continents, a new generation of South African women winemakers are redefining what it means to lead with intuition, courage, and craft. From Franschhoek to the Loire, these visionaries are shaping the future of wine with sensitivity, innovation, and soul.
Meet six women whose stories, and wines, prove that passion and perseverance will always find their way to the glass.
The Explorer — Welma Smith, Atlas Swift
“From getting stuck ankle-deep in the blue clay soils of Petrus, dancing on the rooftop of Cheval Blanc, to sipping Vilafonté in the African bushveld… that was the moment, I knew I needed to follow my dream.” Welma alongside her husband, Martin (also of Paserene), prospect diverse sites across the Cape for their range of small batch chardonnay and cabernet. Martin leads the cellar, while Welma is in charge of the dream-making.
Her Superpower: “The understanding of energy, in both people and in wine. This has shaped how I bring the soul of the wine to the surface.”
Wine of Choice: Atlas Swift W.O Cederberg Chardonnay 2023 One of five chardonnays, each from a different site. This from an extreme vineyard in the Cederberg Mountains rippled with iron-ferricrete soils. atlasswift.co.za
The Innovator — Megan van der Merwe, Beau Constantia
“Success is a measure of progress, a commitment to improvement and the courage to keep that momentum going.” Meet Megan, the youngest winemaker and viticulturist in Constantia Valley – who also happens to be the general manager, too. Megan’s career began at Constantia Glen before gaining international experience in California and the Rhône. Since taking the reins ‘of the youngest farm in South Africa’s oldest region’, she has seen Beau become a brand to be reckoned with through her innovative approach to winemaking as well as experiential marketing.
Her Superpower: “I listen. To the vineyard, to the wine in motion, to the people I work beside, and to the people waiting on the other side of the bottle.”
Wine of Choice: Pas De Nom Creative Batch 2024 A quixotic, textural, savoury blend from a variety of sites, featuring chenin blanc, viognier, roussanne, colombar, fernao pires, and semillon: each vinified separately to honour the intrinsics. beauconstantia.com
The Pioneer — Berene Saul, Tesselaarsdal Wines
“My proudest moments have been the release of the first pinot noir in 2015 as well as acquiring the Tesselaarsdal property–and showing it to my sons the next day. We were just so overwhelmed to know this is ours.” A long-standing employee of Hamilton Russell in the Hemel-en-Aarde, Berene was given ‘a no strings attached’ opportunity by Anthony Hamilton Russell to start Tesselaarsdal Wines. The brand is named after the historic Overberg farming hamlet, in which Berene was born, herself a descendant of the freed slaves who were bequeathed the land in 1810. Wines for the moment are produced from Hemel-en-Aarde fruit, while the release of the first wines from Tesselaarsdal are expected in 2031.
Her Superpower: “My curiosity.”
Wine of Choice: Tesselaarsdal Pinot Noir 2023 Defined by purity of red fruit and a fine-boned, crystalline structure. From the get-go this pinot has garnered critical acclaim, and each vintage continues to go from strength-to-strength. tesselaarsdalwines.co.za
The Swallow — Riandri Visser, Les Ormousseaux & Cape Point Vineyards
“Someone told me winemaking is a job for men, that I should rather become a secretary… I graduated Cum Laude in Oenology and Viticulture and quickly became the head winemaker at Cape Point Vineyards… and now I am making wine in both South Africa and France. So, don’t let anyone decide your future, dream as big as your heart desires.” Riandri splits her time between Les Ormousseaux in the Loire and Cape Point Vineyards, the former a project with her fiancé, Clement Jolivet.
Her Superpower: “Sauvignon blanc… and that I do two harvests a year, in two different countries. It has taught me so much more than staying still would have.”
Wine of Choice: Pouilly-Fumé FUMETTE 2023 A selection of Les Ormousseaux is available from Cape Point Vineyards. Try the FUMETTE, grown on ancient soils, rich in flint, which imbues the characteristic minerality of Pouilly-Fumé. les-ormousseaux.com / cpv.co.za
The Earth Mother — Barbara Melck, Reyneke
“There can be no greatness without goodness. This is something we strive for in everything we do at Reyneke.” Barbara is the winemaker at Reyneke, where they incorporate the fundamentals of organic, biodynamic and regenerative farming. “We know we are only custodians of the land and this is the way to farm for the future.” Barbara’s career has included time at Simonsig, Rupert & Rothschild, Wind Gap, Morgenhof, Krone and more.
Her Superpower: “Trusting my intuition. I truly believe there are unspoken elements in winemaking, and that’s where the real magic lies.”
Wine of Choice: Reyneke Sauvignon Blanc 2024 The title winner of Winemag’s Next Generation Awards 2025, this is a beautifully poised and complex sauvignon. reynekewines.co.za
The Visionary — Mahalia Kotjane, Three Quarters
“The first time I ever made wine was for a high school science project, where I had to ferment something, and I chose grapes. When the moment finally arrived to taste it, I called my siblings into the kitchen. We laughed and crowded around the jar, pouring tiny sips, and in that moment, it was filled with warmth, love, and a sweet, unspoken joy that I’ll never forget. I remember thinking: If wine can bring people together like this, then I want to make wine for the rest of my life.” Three Quarters Wines is the own-label of Mahalia, based in Stellenbosch, the focus is on syrah and Rhône-style blends.
Her Superpower: “I can taste the future. My favourite part of winemaking is tasting the grapes in the vineyard. With just one grape, I can already sense the shape of the wine to come.”
Wine of Choice: Three Quarters Syrah 2023 Coming full circle… It was syrah that Mahalia used for that high school experiment; and now for her maiden Three Quarters release, too. An undeniably fine, silky and aromatic rendition. baobabwines.com/three-quarters
This story was originally published in the August 2025 issue. Words: Malu Lambert.
