Saxenburg

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Women in Wine

At Saxenburg we value the impact Women have on the wine industry across different professions. On the 9th of August, we’re celebrating Women’s Day by recognising women we admire in the industry. Beyond this list. we would like to raise our glass to thank each and every woman for their tenacity and strength and for paving the way for future generations.

What is your journey with wine?

Cape-Town-born, I graduated from the Cape town Hotel School and headed off to London where she started her career at Michelin-starred restaurant, Chez Bruce. Upon my return and after completing a post-graduate degree in management, I spent the next few years as the Restaurant Manager of the world-famous restaurant, The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais, and then as Head Sommelier of The Test Kitchen in Cape Town. In 2015 I moved to Asia where I managed the wine department and international sommelier team at LVMH-owned luxury resort Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives. In 2018, I completed a 5-week harvest internship at Fable Mountain Vineyards and shortly after that moved to Ellerman House Hotel & Villas where I managed the wine & beverage program and Wine Gallery. She has been certified through the Court of Master Sommeliers and the WSET and London Wine & Spirit School. Currently, I am the vice chair of The South African Sommelier Association and the Group Beverage Manager & Sommelier for The Royal Portfolio.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in the wine industry?

There are so many rewarding parts of my job. When it comes to buying, there is always the challenge of finding the best quality products for the best value. Purchasing wines for our lists at our various properties around South Africa means that I need to constantly be thinking about the bigger picture, not just each individual property. Buying with the intention of cellaring is also a large part of my role. We have an incredible collection of rare and older vintage wines that we have been cellaring. The intention is to create interesting and diverse lists that showcase everything from great value to iconic and rare gems.

What advice would you give your younger self, starting a career in the wine industry?

Work hard but work smart as well. Develop your voice as early in your career as possible. Never underestimate your own power and don’t be scared to stand up and stand out. Fear is a very oppressive thing, try learning to overcome fears as early and quickly as possible.

How would you encourage women to pursue a career in wine?

My biggest asset is a combination of my knowledge, my ability to work hard, my on-the-job skills, and my network. Work on the above. The bigger the prize, the harder it is to achieve and, in most careers, what you get out is directly related to what you put in.

What does Women’s Day mean to you?

I see Women’s day as a day in the year where both men and women, boys and girls are reminded of the importance of gender equality. I don’t see Women’s Day as only an opportunity to focus on and celebrate the achievements of Women, as that in itself would be segregating. I see it more as a reminder to all people that women and men are and should be viewed and treated equally in both their careers and workplaces as well as their personal lives.

What woman in wine inspires you the most?

There are many women in the South African and international wine industry who inspire me:

A few of them include Cathy Marston from The International Wine Education Centre. Andrea Mullineux, for being a female wine champion and an inspiration to an entire generation of younger up-an-coming female winemakers, and Rosa Kruger who is a strong, knowledgeable game-changing woman and an inspiration to all in the wine industry, not just women.

What is your journey with wine?

Having worked with wine and spirits since 2007, I decided to pursue further education in the topic at Cape Wine Academy in 2014. I completed the Diploma course in 2016 and enrolled in the Cape Wine Master program which I successfully completed in 2022.  During my Cape Wine Master studies, I enrolled in the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust (WSET) which I successfully completed with a Diploma in Wines and Spirits Level 4. Wine and spirit education and consulting are my goals. With long experience in marketing and brand building in association with leading international liquor brands, I help market and promote South African wine and spirits brands to the international clientele. Amongst all of that, I have three children with whom I share my passion for wine.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in the wine industry?

The ability to showcase and offer top South African wines to customers departing to different destinations in the world and taking our wines with them always was and still is the most rewording aspect of working in this industry.

What advice would you give your younger self, starting a career in the wine industry?

Do it only if you really love it as you will definitely visit much beautiful wine estates but it will also require determination, a lot of practice and sacrifice of personal time to get to the top.

How would you encourage women to pursue a career in winemaking?

There are many reasons why women should pursue a carrier in the wine industry, for example

1. Currently more women than men drink wine so more women should be involved in the process of making and selling wines.

2. Working with wine makes one lifestyle more enjoyable.

3. Although wine is a science – working with wine can be a lot of fun.

4. Women usually organise family gatherings or parties and being knowledgeable about wine enables any woman to pair wine with food.

What does Women’s Day mean to you?

For me, it is a small token of appreciation, acknowledgment, and honour to women around the world for the contribution we make every day to society.

What woman in wine inspires you the most?

I don’t have any icons but every woman who is contributing to the wine industry inspires others to do the same. She is an example that we women can have a fulfilling and successful carrier in this industry while taking care of our families.

What is your journey with wine?

I grew up in the Swartland and thus was surrounded by vineyards I remember, friends of my family farmed on a massive vineyard farm where we spent a lot of time growing up. During school holidays my sister and I worked in the vineyards for pocket money and that is where I started to fall in love with the vines. After I matriculated, I studied at Elsenburg and did my first harvest when I was 20 years old, followed by stints in Australia, California, and Stellenbosch. After which I settled at Saronsberg in Tulbagh as an assistant winemaker for four years. Got married in 2014 and returned to Swartland as a Winemaker for Kloovenburg Estate. During that time I started my own brand Wolf and Woman Wines in 2018 with a focus on old vines and cultivars growing on different soil types.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in the wine industry/ as a winemaker?

It gives me great satisfaction to create something, from vines to wine to label and packaging design, and to see people enjoy the end product is gratifying. The fact that your office changes constantly is also a big bonus, you can feel the sun on your skin, smell freshly pressed juice, pull corks and taste wine with people and do a few administration responsibilities all in a day’s work!

What advice would you give your younger self, starting a career in the wine industry?

Travel more!

How would you encourage women to pursue a career in winemaking?

If you have a passion for chemistry, the outdoors, travel, and people, love to work with your hands, to create and use all your senses (women have a sixth sense called intuition, something that we use a lot on a daily basis) there is absolutely no reason why you can’t pursuit and thrive!

What does Women’s Day mean to you?

Women’s day was created for gender equality, for me, it is sad to think back when women had no right nor voice, where women thought they are not good enough or loved! This day celebrates how far we’ve come and the endless possibilities for future generations!

What woman in wine inspires you the most?

Any woman who raised a family throughout their career in this industry inspires me most!

What is your journey with wine?

Growing up on a family wine farm sums things up. As a little girl of about 5 years old, I would run after my grandfather and father in the cellar during harvest and ask to taste the fermenting grape juice (just a little bit of course!). During the early mornings on the farm, I would also ride along on the harvesting machine and would tell the driver not to stop when he saw my mother, as she was picking me up for school. I took my chances!
I completed my degree in Cellar Technology at Elsenburg in 2018 and we as a group of 9 final year winemaking students also had the opportunity to travel to Portugal and Spain for educational purposes. Elsenburg was my first physical harvest experience, as each student had to make a wine for their final year project. In 2019 I spent my first two months at Graham Beck Wines learning what it takes to make the perfect bubbles. I made my way to Marlborough, New Zealand, in the same year where I worked at Babich Wines, a 6000-ton winery, with Sauvignon blanc for three months.
For the last four months of 2019, I spent my time at Elk Cove Vineyards in Oregon, America, working with Pinot noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. In 2020 I spent the year at Cederberg with David Nieuwoudt, this was an amazing experience, and being taught by South Africa’s best was a privilege.
Currently, the assistant winemaker at Saxenburg Wines, applying most of my valuable experience to the products while being in a more “responsible” position.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in the wine industry/ as a winemaker?

Definitely when you get the final product into a bottle and out to the public. When the wine you helped produce brings happiness and joy to the consumer. For me, it’s the most rewarding to be able to apply the skills and experience that I’ve gained to the product and to repeat this every year with improvement.

What advice would you give your younger self, starting a career in the wine industry?

Keep focusing on your goal, work really hard, and block the negativity out.

How would you encourage women to pursue a career in winemaking?

When I started pursuing my career as a winemaker, I was constantly asked why I’m doing a “man’s” job and I guess this is where my driving force came from. It’s not always about having to be physically strong when you are working in a cellar, there’s no “I” in “team” and within an environment like a cellar, you can always rely on your team to do the work together. If you have a passion for what you do, being physical will be the least of your worries.

What does Women’s Day mean to you?

Celebrating “strong” and “fearless” women who achieve their goals and pursue their passion.

What woman in wine inspires you the most?

Lorraine Geldenhuys from Elsenburg Cellar. Being able to run a working cellar while educating 15 + winemaking students every year and giving advice to both senior and junior winemakers (mostly her old students) is pretty “badass” to me!

What is your journey with wine?

My wine journey started in 2014 at Majeka House –  my first experience with fine dining and wines. My mentor and teacher in the wine world were Josephine Guternhoft, then restaurant manager and sommelier. She introduced me to wines with a big sip of still fermenting Sauvignon Blanc. My previous bosses saw potential in me and they pushed on for me to start studying and so the journey began.

I completed my WSET qualification from level one up to 3 and also kept on adding my knowledge with every wine course I could get. I was among the first APWASI certificate holder in South Africa under the great guidance of BLACC.

I vow to keep studying and acquiring all the wine knowledge I could get because the wine industry is an ever-growing industry with new technology being developed daily.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in the wine industry?

When I started my journey in the industry, it was mostly regarded as a man’s world and being a female sommelier was rare, hence when people came to look for a sommelier in a well-established place like Majeka House and finding a lady was more of a shock but great for me because it was a sign that I had defied all odds and I was putting women on the map. And the best part was being exposed to all the best wines South Africa and the world had to offer.

What advice would you give your younger self, starting a career in the wine industry?

Never stop learning because knowledge will get you where you want to be in life.

How would you encourage women to pursue a career in wine?

Never for a minute doubt your ability to do your job, be confident in what you are doing, and always keep your head high.

What does Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s time to celebrate all the women who have excelled in any field they are in regardless of size, colour, and race.

What woman in wine inspires you the most?

Malu Lamberts – wine writer, blogger, and judge on a lot of wine platforms and a personal friend and mentor. She enjoys what she does and that’s what takes a person to greater heights loving what you are doing before making it a career.

What is your journey with wine?

My wine journey began at a very young age when I moved to Saxenburg. Growing up on the farm, I was always surrounded by the vines and at home, there was contestant wine talk. My parents were also very open to us having a very little taste of wine now and then, which got us accustomed to wine and the different tastes at a young age and of course also awoke my interest. Although I never imagined my career to be in wine, I studied and worked in very different fields. Once I moved back to Saxenburg from abroad my love and passion for wine grew each day and I knew this wine journey is where my heart truly lies.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in the wine industry?

Getting to work with the most wonderful and aspiring people and being able to learn something new about wine and the industry on a daily basis. I get to meet a range of interesting people from around the world, who all share a passion for wine. I love experiencing the hard work that goes into the vineyard and the wine estate each year to create an amazing glass of wine to create Saxenburg Moments.

What advice would you give your younger self, starting a career in the wine industry?

I would say to be more vocal about your wine opinion and taste,

I would always shy away, thinking others knew better, as they are far more experienced. I strongly believe that by sharing your opinion and thoughts, will enable you to learn and grow.

Wine is very objective, therefore, your own opinion matters.

How would you encourage women to pursue a career in wine? 

The wine industry is so versatile and with different opportunities!

When I first started in this industry, it looked so different and women were very scarce especially when it comes to winemakers – it wasn’t an easy environment to work in. However, in the last couple of years, it is finally changing – and only for the better.

More women are joining on all fronts and making such a positive impact on this industry. But there is still so much more to achieve and room for more opportunity creation for women in this industry, Therefore I would highly encourage women to join the wine industry, as we see they are making such a difference. I do believe women will be able to contribute to positive change.

What does Women’s Day mean to you?

In South Africa, it has a very important meaning. I believe this country and society as a whole function better because of women. They (women) often are the main breadwinners, on top of taking care of their families and relative. We (women), should constantly work on further uplifting each other and working together. The day should really remind us of how much women do on an everyday basis and their absolute importance!

What woman in wine inspires you the most, and why?

There are a lot of women in wine that inspires me.

Here in South Africa, it would have to be Samantha O’Keefe, from Lismore Wines. She has gone through so much hardship but she is incredibly resilient and continues the fight and honestly, she creates the most incredible wines.

Internationally, it would have to be Dr. Laura Catena. She is someone I aspire to be. Especially what she has achieved and how she is contributing to the wine industry.

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