Beverly Farmer-Kotze - Uncorking change in South Africa’s wine industry

“They didn’t make space for us at their table. So, we built our own—and now everyone’s asking for a seat.”

Beverly Farmer-Kotze is a 54-year-old trailblazer in South Africa’s wine industry and the CEO of Women in Wine—the first wine production company in the country to be entirely owned, led, and managed by women. Born and raised in Paarl, a town in the heart of South Africa’s wine-producing region, Beverly began her career in public relations and communications at a major wine corporation. Witnessing persistent inequalities in the wine sector—particularly affecting Black women and farmworkers—she co-founded Women in Wine in August 2003 with 19 other women. Through bold partnerships and innovative business strategies, Beverly has led the brand to success both locally and internationally, all while advocating for transformation in an industry historically marked by racial and gender exclusion

Website: https://womeninwine.co.za/

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