Carmen Stevens is arguably South Africa’s first black qualified winemaker. She has conquered the industry that once excluded black people for over 300 years and now produces award-winning wines.
Growing up in Kraaifontein and Belhar, Carmen Stevens fell in love with wine making after reading about vineyards in Mills & Boon novels. Few in her community had heard of winemaking as a career, but a tour of a winery lab introduced her to Elsenburg College – the only institution offering winemaking courses.
She applied in 1990 but was rejected because only white students were admitted. She tried again in 1991 with the same result. Undeterred, she worked factory jobs and sold shoes to save money. By 1992, apartheid began to crack, but Elsenburg still rejected her, this time citing her lack of military service and agricultural experience.
Furious, she threatened to go to the media and in 1993, she was finally admitted. In 1995, the determined businesswoman graduated as South Africa’s first black qualified winemaker.
Carmen Stevens builds a legacy
In 2014, Stevens launched Carmen Stevens Wines through a record-breaking fundraising campaign on the Naked Wines platform, raising $166,000 in eight hours. By 2015, she was named Naked Wines’ Winemaker of the Year, winning a $400,000 prize. In 2019, she officially registered Carmen Stevens Wines as one of South Africa’s 100% black-owned wineries.
Carmen Stevens, the award-winning wine
Carmen Stevens Wines has earned global acclaim, with several of its wines receiving top honours. The Carménère 2019 earned a Double Gold at the 2024 Michelangelo Awards and received impressive scores from renowned wine critic Tim Atkin, who awarded the Stellenbosch version 92 points and the Wellington version 91 points. This wine’s 2022 vintage also won Gold at the 2023 Lumo Awards.
Additionally, the Petrichor wine made headlines by winning the 2024 Blends Challenge Trophy before its official public launch. It was later recognised as the best Bordeaux-style blend at the 2024 Lumo Awards. Its 2022 vintage earned a Double Gold at the 2024 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards and another Gold at the Lumo Awards, with Tim Atkin scoring 91 points. The list of awards is endless.
Stevens moves to give back to marginalised communities
In addition to wine making, Stevens helps her community through mentorship and feeding programmes. In 2016, the businesswoman started the Carmen Stevens nonprofit to tackle child hunger.
By 2019, the non-profit fed 10,310 learners daily at 53 schools, creating 79 job opportunities for unemployed mothers. As of 2024, the nonprofit had served over 11 million meals to more than 41,000 learners.
