Meet the Winemaker- Siwela

Meet 28 year old Siwela from the rural area in Limpopo. She Studied biotechnology, with a major in fermentation at Cape Peninsula University. After graduating she started working at Waterstone wines in the cellar and lab. To enhance her wine knowledge she studied with the Cape Wine Academy. Currently she works full time at Distell as a lab analysis and is a part time winemaker and sales person for Siwela, the wine brand she produces after her namesake. My favorite quote from Siwela, “I was thinking who’s going to buy wine from a black woman, especially in South Africa... I was really wrong because I have a whole lot of people rooting for my wine and who are excited about it” Siwela in Zulu means crossing over. Siwela is doing just that through determination she is entering spaces not typically designed for women or black people.
​The name for the wine and the person who created it is so appropriate. It was a pleasure learning about Siwela’s journey. I am looking forward to crossing her crossing paths with the world via wine! Learn more about Siwela wines: https://www.siwelawines.co.za/home.ph...