Fostering Inclusivity: Impactful Work of Black Female Winemakers
South Africa, renowned as a top wine producer globally, continues to grapple with a stark reality: despite nearly three decades post-apartheid, the wine industry remains predominantly controlled by white-owned wineries. This disparity is glaring, with black-owned brands contributing to less than 1% of wine sales per litre in the country, despite black South Africans comprising over 80% of the population.
However, amidst this inequity, a determined cadre of black women winemakers is striving to effect change. Vivian Kleyhans, the visionary behind Seven Sisters Vineyard, recounts the formidable challenges she confronted in establishing her brand back in 2005. She recalls the enduring shadow of apartheid lingering in the industry, marked by entrenched policies favoring white ownership.
Reflecting on the arduous journey, Kleyhans emphasizes the pervasive sense of exclusion prevalent in a predominantly white, male-dominated sector. Undeterred by local obstacles, she sought opportunities abroad, finding solace in exporting her wines to the United States, where receptivity transcended the barriers she faced at home.
Kleyhans’ experience resonates with other black women winemakers, who echo her struggles to gain traction in the South African market. However, a glimmer of hope emerges as a collective of these resilient entrepreneurs receives vital financial backing from British firm On Cloud Wine to export their products.
Nondumiso Pikashe, a stalwart of the industry for two decades and proprietor of Ses’fikile Wines, underscores the formidable hurdles encountered by black women in navigating an arena historically dominated by entrenched networks and privilege. Yet, buoyed by unwavering determination and self-assurance, Pikashe exemplifies the resilience needed to surmount adversities and carve out a space in the wine industry.
For these pioneering women, the journey toward inclusivity and representation in the wine industry is both a personal and collective endeavor. Their narratives illuminate the enduring legacy of apartheid’s socio-economic disparities while heralding a new chapter of empowerment and opportunity. As they defy odds and challenge norms, their resilience serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring a more equitable and diverse landscape in South Africa’s viticulture sector.
