Column: International Women's Day: the women of De Kaap

Bregje van Weezel (47) lives with her family in Cape Town, South Africa. She writes about her experiences in the colourful but also complex country. In this column, she shares her enthusiasm and knowledge about the South African wine industry. Her stories are neither too dry nor too heavy and this column is entirely on her (wine) mind. If you would like to read more about everything she likes in South Africa, you can follow Bregje on Instragram @vin_ik_leuk

Friday 8 March is International Women's Day. How are women doing in the South African wine industry? Quite a broad question, but looking at the percentage of 18% female winemakers, there is still a long way to go. That top restaurants in South Africa are literally putting them on the (wine) map helps. Because even though they are from Venus, they can make wine like the best of them. Time to put the women of De Kaap in the spotlight.

Eaten by a lion

Catherina, the founder of the Steenberg winery, was overwhelmingly the first power woman in De Kaap. She was one of the few female landowners and, weakly put, had quite an exceptional life. A widow, she came to De Kaap from Germany and where she found love. That man just didn't have luck on his side. He was stabbed as early as the wedding, survived that attack, but was eaten by a lion several years later. The story goes that Catherina herself went after the lion and killed the beast single-handedly. Anyway, from then on, the husbands fly through. Indeed, numbero three is murdered, the fourth is trampled by an elephant, no fun either, and number five did not survive her either.

Liberated by her great love

Ansela van de Caab, another resounding name in the South African wine industry, fared better. Born a slave and working in a notorious slave lodge, she and her three children were freed by her great German love Laurens Campher. Muratie in Stellenbosch became their shared home. Now one of the oldest wineries in South Africa, it became a successful venture mainly due to her efforts. The red Bordeaux-style blend still bears her name; the white, her husband's. As a sign of their all-conquering love, they planted an oak tree next to their house, which is still there.

Like a Phoenix

Over to today's heroines. That winemaking in The Cape is not for wimps has been personally experienced by one of South Africa's finest winemakers, Samantha O'Keefe. In 2019, a forest fire caused her entire Lismore estate to go up in flames. From her house, the vineyards to the stocked wine cellar, everything was destroyed. She had to start all over again, but resurrected from the flames like a Phoenix. Talk about perseverance...

Another woman you can't ignore is Andrea Mullineux. This American came to the Swartland with her husband after her stay in Châteauneuf-du Pape, because she knew that the soil and old vines there had the potential for great wine. In no time, she put Mullinieux, nationally and internationally on the map. One award after another she dragged in.

Then, of course, we have Ntsiki Biyela. A scholarship programme fortunately allowed her to go to college. As the first winemaker of colour and owner of her winery Aslina, she provided much-needed diversity. Catherina Marshall should not be forgotten either. Founder of the South African Garagiste Movement. These winemakers make wine from their own garage or home. Naturally in small batches and with bought grapes. A change within the industry. And there are many other stories laced with initiative and daring to tell.

Invest

The theme of this Women's Day is: "Invest in women: Accelaterate Progress." It seems obvious to me, then, who wine will be bought from and to whom it will be toasted next. As a kind of encouragement, although the wine in itself is reason enough. In case you totally missed this Women's Day. Don't panic. In South Africa it is celebrated again on 9 August. With holiday and all.