Meet Ntsiki Biyela, the first black female winemaker in South Africa » Capital News
Ntsiki Biyela, the Director of Aslina Wines, is a trailblazer.
A woman of many accolades, Ntsiki is the first female black winemaker in South Africa, the winner of the Diversity and Transformation Award at the 2021 Wine Harvest Commemorative Event, and she was listed as the world’s top 10 most Innovative Women in Food and Drink by Fortune’s Food & Wine in 2017, to name a few.
It’s not just Ntsiki who’s taking home awards, so are her wines. Aslina’s wines have won awards in the 2022 Veritas Wine Awards, Sakura Japan Women’s Awards 2022, Decanter World Wine Awards 2022 and more.
Walking into Aslina’s newly opened tasting room I was immediately struck by three things: Ntsiki’s maternal, loving, energy, her passion for wine, and the aroma of traditional South African dishes to accompany our wine tasting – a welcomed change from the typical cheese board.
Aslina is a brand that pays tribute to Ntsiki’s beloved late grandmother.
Ntsiki remembers her fondly, a strong woman who worked hard for her family. Ntsiki grew up in Zululand and remembers not having much, but seared in her memory is her grandmother’s visit to her school, interrupting her Standard Ten Chemistry class and giving her 20 cents.
Ntsiki remembers feeling moved even though her grandmother felt a little hurt she didn’t have more to give, “I was excited, and she was hurt, and the gesture really moved me. I loved seeing her.” Ntsiziki recounts.
The love Ntsiziki received from her grandmother, she pours into everything she does. Aslina wines have six wines in their portfolio; a Methode Cap Classique (also known as MCC, South Africa’s sparkling wine), a Sauvignon Blanc, a red blend named Umsasane (The Acacia Tree), a Chardonnay, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Chenin Blanc.
These award-winning wines are paired with Bobotie, Chakalaka, and Pap, incredibly flavourful traditional South African dishes.
Ntsiziki notes that opening the tasting room is just the beginning for Aslina. Here, she hopes to be able to share her story, grow the business, and eventually open her own wine cellar.
She continues to grow her business through bureaucratic setbacks as she believes in doing the hard work and paving the way for the next generation of black South African winemakers.
When Ntsiziki isn’t building her business or public speaking, you can find her at the Pinotage Development Academy teaching and training.
A few of the graduates from these programs get the opportunity to work with Ntsiziki at Aslina. When I ask how she keeps her spirits high, she says she’s a spiritual woman and leans on her faith.
She sees herself in the students at the Pinotage Development Academy and it encourages her to keep going, keep growing, and keep encouraging change.
As for the future of the black winemaking industry in South Africa, Ntsiziki seems hopeful. She appreciates that change is hard and believes that for the industry to change for black people, it’s going to need those who are in the forefront to be able to admit they’re not doing it for themselves, they’re doing it for those to come.
She wants to leave the next generation in a better position than where she was at their age.
Through all this work, Ntsiziki lives by the motto, “do everything from a place of love”. That love is certainly apparent in her passion, her wines, and her brand. On your next trip to South Africa, you should take a moment to experience it yourself.
Article written by Soni Adriance
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