South Africa’s wine world has long been known for its beauty and history. But for over 300 years, it kept Black South Africans on the sidelines. Carmen Stevens changed that. She didn’t just join the industry — she led it. Today, she’s an award-winning winemaker, business owner, and inspiration to many.
South Africa’s First Black Female Winemaker
Carmen Stevens holds a special title in South Africa. She is the country’s first Black female winemaker. This achievement did not come easily. She faced many challenges before anyone gave her a chance to study winemaking.
As a child growing up on the Cape Flats, she dreamed of working with wine after reading romance novels set in vineyards. Nobody in her community believed it was possible. But Carmen was determined to turn that dream into a career.
Fighting for a Place at the Winemaking Table
Back in the early 1990s, apartheid’s shadows still lingered in South Africa’s schools and workplaces. Carmen applied twice to Elsenburg Agricultural College, the country’s top winemaking school, and was rejected because of her race.
She worked factory jobs and sold shoes at Cape Town station to save money for school. After years of persistence — and threatening to expose the discrimination publicly — she was finally accepted in 1993.
Her time at Elsenburg was difficult. She was one of five women in a class of 100, and one of just two students of color. Carmen often faced racism and isolation. Despite these obstacles, she graduated in 1995 and became the first qualified Black winemaker in South Africa.
“I was the first Black person to graduate in South Africa as a winemaker,” Carmen recalled. “The three years at Elsenburg were challenging, to say the least.”
Building a Career Against the Odds
After graduation, Carmen worked in Distell’s wine cellars. She quickly impressed her employers with her skills and work ethic. She later took charge of the Tukulu brand, South Africa’s first Black economic empowerment wine project.
Her debut Pinotage won major awards, marking her as a rising star. Still, when she applied for top positions, she was told she didn’t have the “right skills.” Carmen refused to be discouraged. She left Distell and went on to work at several respected wineries, including Welmoed and Amani.
At Amani, she won the 2008 Decanter International Red Bordeaux Varietals Trophy for her Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend. That trophy was one of the top awards in global wine, and it confirmed her status as one of South Africa’s best.
Naked Wines Partnership: A Breakthrough Moment
Carmen’s biggest career leap came with Naked Wines, an online wine retailer. Rowan Gormley, the company’s founder, called her one evening and offered her a winemaking deal. Carmen first thought it was a prank. But Gormley kept calling, and she finally said yes.
Her fundraising campaign on the Naked Wines website broke records, raising £120,000 in just eight hours. Customers worldwide were drawn to her story and talent. Carmen’s wines quickly became bestsellers in the UK and US markets.
By 2015, she was crowned Naked Wines’ Winemaker of the Year. This win came with a R6 million prize to invest in new wine projects, expanding her opportunities even further.
Giving Back to Her Community
Even with her international success, Carmen never forgot where she came from. She established a charitable trust with the support of Naked Wines and its customers, known as “Angels.”
Today, her foundation provides healthy daily meals to over 3,000 children at six schools in the Cape Flats area. Carmen understands that “hungry children can’t learn,” and she’s committed to making a difference beyond winemaking.
Looking to the Future
Carmen Stevens continues to grow her business while raising her two daughters as a single mother. She’s now focused on expanding her wine sales into Africa and Asia. For her, success is not just about awards but about creating high-quality wines that customers will return to, regardless of the winemaker’s race.
Her story proves that talent, courage, and determination can open doors where none seemed to exist before. Carmen’s journey from Cape Flats to award-winning winemaker has transformed the South African wine industry — and she’s far from finished.
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