Born and raised on Simonsig in Stellenbosch, Denzel comes from the 3rd generation of a family of vineyard workers
After graduating from high school, Denzel was unable to enter agricultural school due to a lack of fundion. Instead, in 2005, he left the wine industry to pursue a career in social development, working for NGOs with a focus on programs aimed at the rural youth, with the aim of making them active citizens of change and better leaders of communities. In 2011, funding to the NGO Denzel worked with was reallocated, and following this he decided to return to a career in wine. Determined to progress as a person of colour in the wine industry, Denzel pursued education with gusto.
Denzel’s determination and commitment paid dividends in 2014, when he became the first farm child to be promoted to a management position at Simonsig.
Since then, Denzel has used this opportunity to help and guide other farm workers who, like him, wish to progress in their careers in the wine industry, becoming wine advisors and aiding disadvantaged students in getting access to wine roles on farms. In 2020, Denzel became the first university graduate in his family. He is also a graduate of UCT Graduate School of Business, where he obtained his Certificate in the Business of Wine. Committed to helping others all through his life, Denzel has founded the SOS (Son Of the Soil) Foundation, which aims to equip "young people to become active citizens and authentic leaders".
In 2023, he was appointed as the sales and brand executive at Zoetendal Vineyards in Elim, Cape Agulhas.
In the broader industry, Swarts has held a number of respected leadership roles, including among others: member of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes Transformation Task Team; vice-chairperson/acting chairperson of the University of Cape Town’s Postgraduate Commerce Faculty; and currently director at the Pinotage Youth Development Academy as well as director at the South African Wine Industry Professional Body.
His achievements have earned him numerous awards. Notably, he was the only African to have received the esteemed Golden Vines Wine Scholar Guild Scholarship in 2022, which he selflessly relinquished to aid another in need. In 2026, he received the Growing Inclusivity Award at the Wine Harvest Commemorative Event.
He currently lives in Cape Town with his wife Nadae and two kids, Diego and Deezaan.