Women in the Wine Industry: 40 Years of Progress and Achievement

In 1984, Norma Ratcliffe, co-founder of Warwick Wine Estate, made her first wine illegally at a dairy.

Often hailed as the “First Lady” of the South African wine industry, Norma became the first woman to join and chair the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG).

Forty years later, women in the South African wine industry are no longer a rarity. From winemakers, sommeliers to growers, writers, entrepreneurs, and landowners: women are increasingly taking leadership positions—acclaimed for their contributions.

Be Bold: Not Because You’re a Woman

Capability has always been crucial for Norma Ratcliffe, one of South Africa's first commercial female winemakers. She believes her invitation to the CWG in 1990 was solely based on the quality of her wines. She laughs as she recalls the shock everyone felt when she was elected CWG chair in 1993.

"They didn’t vote for me because I was a woman but because I made good wine," Ratcliffe states. "I was different, but I hadn’t noticed; we were a small group simply working hard to get our wine overseas."

Her decision to step down as a judge for the "Woman Winemaker of the Year" competition was also based on merit. “Since there was no competition for Winemaker of the Year,” she explains, “I didn’t think the initiative served its purpose."

Ratcliffe sees substantial progress for women in the South African wine industry over the past 50 years. However, she acknowledges that the industry still grapples with gender inclusion. “Expectations for women to be appointed are now higher,” she notes. “But if a male candidate is more qualified for a job, women should accept that.”

She emphasizes that women shouldn’t overlook non-winery-specific roles, particularly in marketing, which she views as vital for a wine brand’s success. She believes many women could enhance their networks and connections within the industry. "Women should be bold enough to contribute based on their expertise and skills," she advises.

Still active as a mentor, Ratcliffe encourages women to support the younger generation in the industry. "The wine industry should focus less on its own importance and more on sharing problems and seeking solutions together. The CWG is now a large group, and I think women benefit from it more than men. They listen and learn." Today, there are only four women in the Cape Winemakers Guild—there’s room for growth!

SoulSista: From Waitress to Top Sommelier in London

Even in the sommelier field, which was previously male-dominated, women are asserting their influence. Sharrol Mukendi-Klaas (44) from Klerksdorp in the Northwest Province now works in London for the South African company Humble Grape as the wine manager at Vivat Bacchus restaurant.

Klaas' journey began as a waitress in the Open Wine Bar in Cape Town, where she was inspired to pursue a career in the wine industry. "One of the owners enrolled me in the PIWOSA Women in Wine program that supports women from disadvantaged backgrounds," Klaas explains. "This opportunity allowed me to take various wine courses, and I never regretted it."

Klaas admires leading South African women in wine, including Andrea Mullineux, Carmen Stevens, Ntsiki Biyela, Natasha Williams, Praisy Dlamini, Catherine Marshall, and Christa from Huis van Chevallerie.

She believes South Africa plays a leading role in promoting women’s development in Africa, but more should be done to encourage education, such as enrolling in WSET courses (Wine and Spirit Education Trust). “Some restaurant owners don’t compensate sommeliers adequately, hindering their continuation of studies,” she observes. “This issue must be addressed to encourage more women to invest in their professional growth."

Klaas shares her journey on Instagram @SoulSistaWineDiaries, connecting her love of wine and art. "I’ve always turned to art to express my emotions," she says. "Especially since I was raised as a black woman of my age to be submissive, which was a disadvantage in my career. It can be challenging to stand up for oneself and believe in one’s worth. Yet, my friends describe my approach in the wine industry as holistic, aligning with my beliefs about authenticity and balance."

Rise Up: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

In 2016, Josephine Karelse from Robertson Winery decided to seize every opportunity that came her way. After finishing school, Karelse worked various jobs, including grape and apricot harvesting, street sweeping, office cleaning, and nine years in a canning factory before starting as a laborer at Robertson Winery in 2008.

When she saw an ad for Agri's Got Talent (AGT) at work, she felt compelled to participate. "I knew I had to do it because I wanted to experience a challenge," Karelse says. AGT is a singing competition and skills development project for agricultural workers in the fruit and wine industry, presented by HORTGRO, the VinPro Foundation, and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. Finalists undergo a week of singing and life skills training before performing at a gala event.

A lifelong singer, Karelse was thrilled to make it to the top 10 from 70 entries and even more surprised to take third place. "AGT was an incredible experience, a real boost for my self-confidence," she states.

In 2023, Karelse was invited to perform at the AGT Reunion Show in Paarl. Her voice features in the song "Rise Up," which holds a special significance for her. "Women no longer just stay home to cook and clean. They find themselves and rise as working women in any field they choose," she declares.

"Women are essential to our wine industry," Karelse adds. "The days of only male involvement are long over. In this new era, there’s plenty of room for women. I love seeing women seize opportunities and enter the wine industry, where they are gradually but surely rising to leadership positions in viticulture and winemaking."

Encouraging: Women in Wine Collaboration

Women in Wine is South Africa's first fully female-led, controlled, and managed wine production company. A significant milestone was achieved in August 2024 when the Women in Wine Natural Sweet series launched in collaboration with Shoprite across 460 stores.

Beverly Farmer, co-founder and CEO, has been with Women in Wine for over 20 years. She sees the initiative as a turning point in the traditionally male-dominated wine industry, committed to opening doors for women, including vineyard workers and their families.

"Women in Wine, founded by 20 professional black women from various fields of viticulture, focuses on uplifting women and producing quality wine," states Farmer.

In their efforts to include women in leadership positions, Women in Wine established the Farm Worker Women’s Trust, which offers practical training opportunities in partnership with strategic allies. Currently, around 200 female vineyard workers benefit from this initiative.

"The economic potential of women is largely untapped, but it’s heartening to see more women-led businesses emerging in the wine industry, with women claiming roles traditionally held by men," Farmer remarks. She estimates about 70 black-owned companies and around 25 women-led businesses within South Africa’s wine industry. "Some of these women have been pioneers, and their success has motivated others to enter the industry."

Farmer advises newcomers to collaborate to maximize their impact. "The wine industry can be tough and relentless," she cautions.

She believes ongoing dialogue and discussions about change are crucial. "Women in Wine is advocating for stronger black representation in the newly established South African Wine Board, and it’s encouraging that two of the four representatives are women. Additionally, a group of women-owned businesses, feeling excluded from critical discussions about industry transformation, organized a march to Parliament to voice their complaints and deliver a memorandum."

Here's to the next forty years of women in wine!

(translated from an article by Isabeau Botha)