A HOMEGROWN POWERHOUSE
South African winemakers have and continue to perfect their craft. One such winemaker is set to take the industry to new heights.
Carmen Stevens grew up on the Cape Flats and didn’t have much opportunity to taste wine, let alone learn about the art of winemaking. Growing up her community was plagued by violence which forced her to mostly stay indoors during her free time immersing herself in books. Through her reading, her mind was opened to new and exciting worlds. One of these was the world of wine of which she was determined to become a part. After a few rejections, Carmen, in 1995, graduated from (OVHQEXUJ $JULFXOWXUDO &ROOHJH DV WKH ¿UVW EODFN ZLQHPDNHU LQ 6RXWK Africa.
In the 26 years that have followed her graduation Carmen Stevens has made a name for herself in the South African wine world. In 2011 Carmen Stevens Wines was established, releasing their maiden vintage LQ DQG LQ VKH UHJLVWHUHG WKH ¿UVW IXOO\ EODFN RZQHG ZLQHU\ LQ South Africa.
Carmen is an active role player within the South African Wine Industry and serves on both the SA Wine and Spirits Board and SAWITU (Transformation UNIT) board. She has also gone on to rack up an impressive number of awards including:
Entrepreneur Awards
• Winner- Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019
• Top Entrepreneur Export Markets, Western Cape in 2017
• Top Entrepreneur in Sector: Export Markets, National in 2017 • Winner in Entrepreneur Category: Regional Business Achiever
Awards 2017: Business Woman’s Association, SA
Wine Awards
• 2021 – Winemag.co.za - Prescient Sauvignon Blanc Report 202194 scored and
• Top ten – in wooded class.
• 2021 - Tim Atkin 90 and 91 scored wines – SBL and Carmenere • 2019 - Double Gold Michelangelo Award: SBL 2019
• 2019 - Gold Michelangelo Award: Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 • 2019 - Quest for the BEST – 12 top wines from grapes grown in
Wellington for Carmen Stevens Carmenere 2017
• Winemaker of the Decade 2018 : Naked Wines UK
• Winemaker of the Year 2017: Naked Wines in the UK
• Decanter World Wine Awards 2015: Catoria Sauvignon Blanc
2014, Gold
• Winemaker of the Year 2015: Naked Wines in the USA
But it is not all about awards and winemaking. In 2015 Carmen registered the Carmen Stevens Foundation with the focus on providing two meals per school day to learners in South Africa. Expanding on their initial focus, with the introduction of Lockdown in March 2020 the foundation
In partnership with launched the Carmen Stevens Covid Relief Program which ran until May 2021 and provided for 18 160 people. This was achieved through 39 community kitchens in 33 communities and served over 4,2 million plates of food.
The Carmen Stevens Foundation is presently providing for over 25 531 learners through their food programme servicing 46 primary schools in 20 communities, 10 secondary schools in six communities, 47 early childhood development centre’s in 11 communities and 21 community kitchens in 19 communities.
The Mail & Guardian Wine Club in Partnership with Dry Dock Liquor aims to support and showcase the wines of up and coming producers with a special focus on black women winemakers. We are immensely proud to bring these incredible award winning wines from Carmen Stevens to you. Get them now at www.drydockliquor.co.za. Sign up to receive the Mail & Guardian Wine Club newsletter at https://mg.co.za/wineclub.
• Gift voucher valid until 05 December 2021.
• Gift voucher valued at R150 off any purchase of R500 or more for
Dry Dock Liquor.
• Alcohol not for sale to persons under the age of 18. Drink
Responsibly.