WeeklySA_AdminPRESTIGE: Five luminaries honoured, including trail-blazing black woman winemaker…
By Len Maseko
The South African wine industry yesterday honoured five personalities with an illustrious history in the sector, including one of the first black woman winemakers, for setting exemplary standards and pioneering work.
Praisy Dlamini of Adama Wines was honoured at a prestigious annual function hosted at the Wine Harvest Commemorative Event at Groot Constantia in Cape Town, the oldest wine-producing farm in South Africa. The annual event has become a tradition within the South African wine community, encouraging excellence and marking the birth date of South African wine 366 years ago in 1659—when wine was pressed for the first time from Cape grapes.
Among the 2025 recipients were the industry’s exceptional leaders of many decades, including Johann Krige, the force behind the iconic Kanonkop wine label who received the 1659 Award for Visionary Leadership. Also honoured were industry legend Bennie Howard, who was recognised in the wine advancement category and Jan Booysen in the Viticulture and Viniculture category. The inaugural recipient in the new Wine Agri-Worker category was Marcus Lewis.
Dlamini, who cut her teeth as newly graduated winemaker at Distell’s Die Bergkelder, Zonnebloem and Nederburg, having honed her skills as the first female protégé of the Cape Winemakers’ Guild in 2012, was honoured for her leadership and dedication to promoting inclusivity by transforming Adama Wines into a beacon of diversity. Her journey from KwaZulu-Natal to becoming the first woman protégé highlights her commitment to breaking barriers of gender, race, and socioeconomic status.
Adama Wines has grown into a symbol of empowerment for young black women in the wine industry. By allocating two percent of its profits to a bursary scheme, Adama Wines provides vital financial support to aspiring professionals. This initiative not only fosters talent but also ensures that future generations can forge meaningful careers in winemaking and other sectors.
She has led Adama Wines to win numerous accolades, solidifying its reputation as a leader in promoting diversity.
Dlamini exemplifies transformative leadership by pioneering inclusivity in the Cape Wine industry, making her a worthy recipient of this honour.
Clifford van der Venter, chairman of the Groot Constantia Trust, said: “We are delighted to, once again, host the Wine Harvest Commemorative Event at Groot Constantia, the oldest wine-producing farm in South Africa. As we celebrate the birthday of the South African wine industry and bless this year’s harvest at the event, we also honour individuals and organisations who have made extraordinary contributions to the industry.
“This year’s honourees reflect the strength of the SA wine industry and showcase the resilience and adaptability of South African wine in a very competitive global market. The occasion represents not only the culmination of hard work and dedication but also a celebration of the vibrant community that defines our wine heritage.”
Krige’s recognition of his substantial contributions to the South African wine industry, include catapulting the family’s Kanonkop Wine Estate into an international powerhouse. His strategic focus on red wine varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, climaxed with the estate’s winning of the Robert Mondavi Trophy in London four times and achieving a historic 100-point score from international wine critic Tim Atkin for the 2015 Kanonkop Paul Sauer—marking this the first-ever perfect score in the New World.
Krige’s pioneering efforts raised the profile of South Africa’s indigenous grape – Pinotage – on the global stage. Meanwhile, Bennie Howard’s commitment to the South African wine industry includes his remarkable contribution in establishing the now-defunct Nederburg Auction as a coveted global wine calendar event. He is an influential wine judge, Cape Wine Master, and vice-chair of the SA National Wine Show Association.
Western Cape’s Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Dr Ivan Meyer, expressed delight at their association with the South African wine industry and the Wine Harvest Commemorative Event.
“The SA wine industry is vibrant, sustainable, innovative, resilient, and one of the cornerstones of the Western Cape, and South African, agricultural sector,” says Meyer.
“In 2023, the Western Cape Government embarked on a resolute journey by adopting the Growth for Jobs (G4J) Strategy. This strategic framework is our unwavering commitment to steer the provincial economy towards break-out growth, creating a jobs-rich, inclusive, sustainable, diverse, and resilient environment by 2035. Together, we are working towards growing the economy, creating jobs, and a safe Western Cape while promoting the well-being and dignity of its citizens. Over the last 366 years, the wine industry has overcome many challenges and, through visionary leadership, such as this annual event, developed into an iconic sector with strong linkages to tourism.”
