With Kiara Scott and Nongcebo Langa already winning acclaim for the wines they craft, the industry is ripe with possibility and ready for change we can all embrace.
When the Western Cape Provincial Parliament passed a resolution congratulating Kiara Scott Farmer on her achievements in the wine industry, it concluded the statement with the words: “She became the youngest head female winemaker in South Africa at the age of just 26. She serves as an example for young women everywhere on what can be achieved through hard work.”
That’s something to live up to, but in the years since, Kiara has been more than equal to them: she’s graduated from being a ‘young winemaker’ to being acclaimed for her winemaking skills more broadly, being named the 2024 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year. Originally from the Cape Flats, Kiara’s journey in the wine industry began with studies at the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute in Viticulture and Oenology, taking her to the Rhone Valley and Sonoma, California, and most recently saw her named head winemaker at Hazendal. Her ascent comes at a time when the wine industry is changing, and evolving into a world that’s a more inclusive, socially conscious space that’s exciting and accessible to a wider group — led by the people closest to the product.
For Nongcebo Langa, chief winemaker at Delheim Wines, “The rapid changes we are seeing in the world currently have me intrigued about where they will propel the wine industry. There is so much to adapt to, and to incorporate into the workings of wine.” Nongcebo explains that these changes are both within the wine industry – such as leaps in the development of technology used by winemakers — as well as external factors. Initially drawn to her field of study by the promise of a career that enabled travel, Nongcebo graduated with an MSc in Oenology at Stellenbosch University, where she had the opportunity to be a part of groundbreaking research on the effect of wildfires and global warming on viticulture. From environmental challenges relating to the climate crisis and the ever-evolving wine consumer, there’s a lot to consider when crafting an appealing wine. For Nongcebo, the challenges of change are exciting, and she’s facing them head-on. “As my career progresses, I want to be front and centre of this adaptation,” she says.
As the industry changes, progress for women winemakers is significant – but, notably, still too slow. Nongcebo says, “Enough progress, for me, would be to see equal representation in all spheres of wine, and that can only be achieved when all parties involved want to embrace change. And I do feel that women still face more challenges than men in the industry, even more so when you start to add colour to the person’s skin. The constant questioning, undermining, being overlooked or excluded are some of the challenges that women face in silence, and these can influence how far the women progress in their careers.”
Kiara’s advice to those who would follow in her footsteps is simple. For young women wanting to make their way in the world of wine, it’s essential to: “Pay attention to detail, develop your palate and find a mentor.” Similarly, when asked about how young women can improve their chances of succeeding in the industry Nongcebo emphasises the importance of a strong support structure. “I would always recommend finding mentors and coaches,” she says. “Find people who will keep it real for you, so you can make informed decisions. And ask – so many people are willing to answer questions. There are such great support systems and ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ greatly encapsulates the community, which has allowed the resilient women that remain in the industry to thrive.”
Among the qualities that she feels every winemaker should have, Kiara names “a great team” as one of the most important, and is quick to credit those with whom she’s worked as key contributors to her success: “It truly shows what hard work and a dedicated team can achieve together,” she said of her 2024 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year win. “It’s an incredibly humbling and gratifying experience.”
For Nongcebo, her own accolades have also been a reminder of the part she plays in the winemaking community. “Receiving any award is a great stamp of recognition that you are doing great and that you are on the right path,” she says. ‘Tor me, these accolades have meant a lot in cementing my place in the industry, showcasing my ability, and providing inspiration to the generation that comes after me.” In addition to being named Diner’s Club Young Winemaker of the Year in 2023, Nongcebo was also included in WineLand Media’s 30 under 30 – a list recognising young professionals for their contributions to the South African wine industry – in the same year.
The future looks bright for the two young women, not only in terms of their individual career paths, but also for the industry that they champion, and the growing group of women making a mark within it. “Progress has been made in incorporating women in the wine industry. We see women in positions of brand and farm ownership, winemakers, farm managers, sales representatives, cellar assistants, researchers,” says Nongcebo. Then, of course, there are the wine drinkers and appreciators. A 2018 study by Dr Carla Weightman found that as the local wine industry shifted its attention to local wine drinkers rather than focusing on the export market, it had come to light that not only did the wine-drinking population consist of 56% women, but that women were more likely to have wine as their first choice of beverage, and drink wine at a broader range of occasions. Despite this, gender bias and a lack of representation do persist in the industry, but Kiara notes that there’s positive change to be seen. “There is an increasing number of women becoming wine brand owners and winemakers,” she says. “Being a woman also provides me advantages over my male counterparts in the industry.”
“I’ve met such amazing women in the wine industry,” continues Nongcebo, naming Mahalia Kotjane, Lauren Segers, Natasha Williams, Freda-Marizen Jacobs, Kayleigh Hattingh, Elzanne Fourie, Michelle Waldeck, and Kiara herself, before admitting that she’d never be able to recall all of the women in the industry who’ve impressed her. “From all sectors: production, sales, marketing, hospitality… I am always inspired by each and every one of them. With these young people at the helm, the wine industry is in good hands.”
By: Cayleigh Bright
Photography by: Supplied: Hazendal and Delheim wine, Pexels
Text courtesy of Livingspace magazine
