Meet SA’s First Black Female Winemaker- Ntsiki Biyela

She had never tasted wine when she was awarded a college scholarship to study winemaking. Now, Ntsiki Biyela is South Africa’s first black female winemaker, at boutique winery Stellekaya in Stellenbosch—where her very first red blend took the gold at the country’s prestigious Michelangelo Awards in 2009. Biyela is now preparing to launch a new wine as an independent wine maker. She’ll be leaving Stellekaya and will buy grapes from farmers because she can’t afford her own vineyards just yet.

Biyela is a B Sc. Oenology graduate from Stellenbosch University and was an SAA bursar after excelling at science in high school in Zululand. She has a passion for red wine and has been named the Landbouweekblad Woman Winemaker of the year.

But, how does it feel to be the first black woman to make wine in Africa?  

“In the beginning it was tough. But one thing I’ve learned, having mentors around to support you—whether they are groundbreakers or the first to do certain things or have succeeded in certain things—they haven’t done it all by themselves. There are always people around them. It’s always just a journey. At the end of the day, it’s all about winemaking. It’s all about enjoying. I think the support of the people around is what makes it easier to do things.”

“I have gotten to where I am with the assistance of other people, so I think it’s always important to look back and extend my hand to do something for others. As a mentor of the Pinotage Youth Development Academy, I work with young people who are disadvantaged and train them for work in the wine.”