Blaauwklippen Estate’s head winemaker, Narina Cloete, has been crowned Woman Winemaker of the Year at the prestigious LUMO Awards, marking a significant moment for women in South Africa’s wine industry.
At the same ceremony, Blaauwklippen received four major accolades, including Double Gold for its 2023 Chardonnay and 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, and Gold for its 2022 Malbec and 2020 De Blaauwe Klip. Cloete, who has led the estate’s winemaking team since 2016, said:
“This award is a personal honour, but also a celebration of the many women bringing fresh vision to South African wine.”
Cloete is part of a new generation of female winemakers, viticulturists, and industry leaders reshaping South African wine with bold ideas and global ambition. She emphasises that nurturing female talent is essential for balance in the industry:
“Many of the country’s most innovative wines today are crafted by women. Visibility is power, and when young women see awards celebrating other women, it shows them they belong.”
After graduating cum laude in Oenology from Stellenbosch University, Cloete honed her craft at Glen Carlou, Dornier, AA Badenhorst, and Stellenzicht before leading Quoin Rock and later Blaauwklippen. She has also judged prestigious competitions including the Veritas Awards and Spain’s Zarcillo International Wine Competition, consistently championing South African wine on the global stage.
The LUMO Awards, judged exclusively by women, celebrate excellence across the industry and highlight female leadership in a field where it has historically been underrepresented.