“They didn’t make space for us at their table. So, we built our own—and now everyone’s asking for a seat.”

Beverly Farmer-Kotze is a 54-year-old trailblazer in South Africa’s wine industry and the CEO of Women in Wine—the first wine production company in the country to be entirely owned, led, and managed by women. Born and raised in Paarl, a town in the heart of South Africa’s wine-producing region, Beverly began her career in public relations and communications at a major wine corporation. Witnessing persistent inequalities in the wine sector—particularly affecting Black women and farmworkers—she co-founded Women in Wine in August 2003 with 19 other women. Through bold partnerships and innovative business strategies, Beverly has led the brand to success both locally and internationally, all while advocating for transformation in an industry historically marked by racial and gender exclusion

Website: https://womeninwine.co.za/

https://gracamacheltrust.org

“Every seed I plant is a protest. A protest against hunger, against inequality, against a system that forgot its people.”

Tandiswa Hopa, affectionately known as Tandi, is a 50-year-old organic farmer, community activist, and founder of Green Riverbend Programs, based in the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa. With 17 years of experience as a community development specialist, Tandi transitioned into full-time farming in 2016, driven by her passion for food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture. Starting with no formal funding but strong family support, she and her husband purchased 44-hectares of virgin land along a riverbend, where she established a thriving vegetable, poultry, and agro-processing enterprise.

Tandi mentors women and youth, training them in organic farming techniques and market access strategies while leading a food hub that enables farmers to set fair prices. She is also a passionate advocate for just food systems, climate adaptation, and women’s leadership in agriculture.

Website: https://www.riverbendvk.co.za/

https://gracamacheltrust.org

“This is bigger than me. This is about women being seen and respected as builders of wealth and custodians of culture.”

Kwanele Nyawo is the co-founder and co-owner of Kunu Fine Wine, a boutique wine brand based in Paarl, Western Cape. At 39 years old, she has already made a meaningful mark in South Africa’s wine landscape. In 2021, she co-founded both Khulu Fine Wine and Mzansi Craft Wine, with the full startup investment funded by her business partner, who also serves as co-founder. Originally from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, Kwanele’s journey into the wine industry reflects her passion for innovation, representation, and access. She is a committed advocate for inclusion of women in the farming sector, particularly within the wine industry, where she actively champions opportunities, visibility, and recognition for women across the value chain.

Website: https://khululuxury.com/

https://gracamacheltrust.org

"I realised wine wasn't just a drink — it represented heritage, culture, and business. And it was time we claimed our place at the table."

Nondumiso Pikashe, 57, is the founder and CEO of Ses’fikile Wines, a Black woman-owned wine brand based in Cape Town, South Africa. At the dawn of democracy in South Africa she was exposed to the wine industry through a government-supported initiative. She quickly became passionate about wine as both a cultural heritage and an economic opportunity. In 2005, she founded Ses’fikile Wines, meaning “We Have Arrived,” a name symbolising the rightful claim of Black women in the industry. Despite barriers like limited access to markets and capital, she has remained committed to creating a successful brand, educating young people about responsible alcohol consumption and the many career opportunities within the wine sector.

Website: https://sesfikilewines.com/

https://gracamacheltrust.org

“Each woman I train cultivates more than food, she cultivates independence.”

Refiloe Molefe, a 65-year-old farmer, agro-processor, and community activist, founded Precious Harvest, a social farming initiative based in Johannesburg, South Africa. A mother of seven and caregiver to many more vulnerable children, Refiloe began her journey by transforming a neglected bowling green in the inner city into a thriving vegetable garden to feed hungry children. Her commitment grew into a multi-site urban farming project that supplies organic produce, juices, and chilli sauces to local markets and schools. Refiloe trains young people, women, and unemployed community members, in sustainable farming, often using her hands as her only tools.

https://gracamacheltrust.org

“I refused to let my grandchildren inherit this curse. When science gave no answers, I turned to the soil.”

Lungisa Nonkwelo is a 64-year-old farmer, herbal remedy producer, and community leader from Nqamakwe in Eastern Cape, South Africa. After working for over 15 years in the financial sector she transitioned into farming and agro-processing following a personal battle with breast cancer in 2011. Inspired by her family’s tragic history with cancer and determined to find a natural solution, Lungisa developed Defender, an indigenous herbal supplement used for chronic illnesses, including cancer, arthritis, and general immune support.

https://gracamacheltrust.org

“I slept on the floor with only God watching. But the soil knew my name. I wasn’t done.”

Vivian Kleynhans is a trailblazing South African entrepreneur, the founder of Seven Sisters Wines and African Roots Wines—among the very few Black woman-owned wine estates in Stellenbosch, South Africa’s premier wine region.

Born in the small fishing village of Paternoster in current Western Cape, South Africa during apartheid, Vivian and her family were forcibly removed from their home under the Group Areas Act, a law that displaced non-white families from areas reserved for white citizens. Her life has been marked by both personal and professional challenges—including the loss of her home, the collapse of her business, and a painful divorce—but she has emerged as an internationally respected voice in the wine industry.

Visit her website: https://www.sevensisters.co.za/

https://gracamacheltrust.org