Samarie is a seasoned journalist and professional photographer who started the wine publication Versnit after a decade of being the lifestyle, travel, and wine editor for Die Burger and Media24 before joining Benguela Cove Wine Estate as Brand Manager from 2018 until March 2020.
A Fine Arts and Journalism graduate, Samarie has completed her Cape Wine Academy diploma and wine business management at the UCT business school. She is also a certified taster through the Michael Fridjhon Judging Academy and has represented South Africa in the World Blind tasting Championships in France 2014. She continuous serving an various wine judging panels while working as a freelance journalist, creative brand consultant and concluding her WSET diploma in wine.
Her infectious love for wine led to the online platform Married Two Wine, where she and her sommelier fiancé Georgio Meletiou share their daily wine musings after Covid ruined their wedding plans.