Celebrating Women’s Day Winemakers 2025

By Iheoma Okoroma | March 8, 2025 0 Comments

Happy International Women’s Day!

Two years ago, we raised a glass to lady winemakers who were making inroads and names for themselves within a traditionally male dominated industry. These ladies, including Susana Balbo and Courtney Treacher, hailed from the Mediterranean, as well as Australia in the southern hemisphere.

Here’s an excerpt from our earlier article: “Women’s Day is celebrated globally and brings together women of all nationalities to celebrate the progress of women’s rights, and other achievements of women.”

Link to the earlier article here: Celebrating Women In the Winemaking Business (simply-woman.com)

This year we again feature lady winemakers, and are delighted to add the African continent to our ‘reach.’ Enter *Amandla, a company from the Western Cape in South Africa, employing a 100% female workforce. Additionally, all staff at Amandla are either black or brown in complexion so diversity is in full force in the professionals representing this company. These women possess different skills set that combine to produce good wine within a sustainable, future forward business.

At the forefront is head winemaker Praisy Dlamini and viticulturalist Ruth Faro. Praisy walked us through, via video film, one vineyard on the tip of the south African coast that makes ‘the best chenin,’ full of April flavours, quince and tropical notes due to areas of dry land that help concentrate the fruit.

And Ruth informed us the chenin blanc block is a good 9 acres and importantly Vita certified with the **IPW, meaning it is also sustainable for the community.

To that end, Laithwaites Wine is pleased to help celebrate Amandla’s achievements with their Amandla Signature Chenin Blanc 2024, South Africa, 12.5% abv.

This medium bodied, dry white is made from grapes grown on the Glenrosa soils of the Western Cape, which retains water and imparts natural nutrients to the vine. So this wine boasts a nose of tropical pineapple, with a palate of lemon with peach overtones. Overall, refreshingly fruity and lively in finish. Pair with cheeseboards, pasta or salads. Our author found the wine strong in flavour, with minerality on first sip. RRP £13.99 from Laithwaites.

*Amandla is a rallying cry, to which the response of ‘Awethu,’ meaning ‘Power Within Us,’ celebrates Africa and the women responsible for making this wine.

(**Integrated Production of Wines environmental sustainability scheme established in south Africa in 1998).