Proudly SA held a wine expo at the Prison Break Market in Johannesburg from Thursday (13/07) till Saturday (15/07), to show how the sector is growing in the country. Speaking to Palesa Mosia, marketing officer for Rockbelt Ridge wine, she said she and her family are from the Free State. However, the wine was founded by Dr Dan Mosia in the Western Cape at Robertson. “We are hopeful that from this expo we will be able to get the name ‘Rockbelt Ridge’ out there with the help of Proudly SA.”

Another wine group, called Nanola Wines, was founded by two women. One of the founders, Silindile Zuma, said the name Nanola is a mash-up of two words that have great meaning to them. “The first word is ‘iron’, which her father called her as a term of endearment. The second word is ‘Nina’, a Spanish word for ‘little girl’ as she will always be her father’s strong little girl. It is therefore our submission that Nanola means feminine strength which invokes intense feelings of passion, trustworthiness, and intent.” The wine was founded in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, but she added the idea existed before the pandemic.

The wine expo was held at the Prison Break Market in Johannesburg. Photo: Tshehla Koteli

Sesfikile wines, founded by another woman, Nondomiso Pikashe, means ‘we have arrived’. “The wine means celebration, people can have it anytime when they are celebrating good news,” she adds.

Carmen Stevens Wines, based in Stellenbosch, have named a few wines after the founders’ mothers. The founder, Carmen Stevens, graduated as the first black South African to study the art of winemaking in South Africa. She has been in the wine industry since 1995, while the brand was established in 2011, with the maiden vintage in 2014.  

In 2022, there were 20 exhibitors. This year, there were 30, with 70% being women. Photo: Tshehla Koteli

During the first day of the expo, Proudly SA’s Chief Marketing Officer, Happy Makhumalo Ngidi, said they have decided to host the expo for the second time after it did well in 2022. “Just like last year, the expo is still dominated by women. For 2022 we had around 20 exhibitors, mostly women and this year we have 30, with 70% being women.”

She stated that this representation highlights the remarkable strides made by women in an industry historically dominated by men and provides an empowering platform to foster inclusivity and equality. The expo was held from 13 to 15 July in Johannesburg, hosting a variety of winemakers from all over South Africa.

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