Winemaker Carmen Stevens has been in the South African wine industry since qualifying in 1995. She graduated as the first black South African to study winemaking in South Africa.
After initially being barred from enrolling at Elsenburg due to the colour of her skin, Carmen went on to work as a winemaker for different premium vineyards. In January 2019, she registered Carmen Stevens Wines (PTY) Ltd, the first 100% black-owned winery in South Africa, based in the picturesque Stellenbosch.
Apart from producing several highly awarded wines, Carmen serves on the Wine and Spirits Board and is a representative on the South African Transformation Unit board.
Carmen is committed to giving back and youth development in the wine industry is close to her heart. She strongly believes in the power of early empowerment programmes to enable children to rise above their circumstances. To date her NPO has provided 11 622 731 plates of food to 41 363 learners.
She is an active industry role player and a respected personality within the wine industry who continues to inspire numerous aspiring, emerging and established winemakers across the spectrum.
In 2022, she won the prestigious 1659 Visionary Leadership Award at the SA Wine Harvest Commemorative Event in recognition of her lasting impact and legacy in the South African wine industry.