New non-executive chairperson for Wosa: Carina Gous
· 4 min read
At the fourth-term board meeting for South African generic wine export promotions body, Wines of South Africa (Wosa), ex-Distell group brand director, Carina Gous was appointed as their new non-executive chairperson.
As Distell’s brand director: Luxury Wines & Spirits, her portfolio included the company’s premium wine brands and estate wines, the specialty Scotch single malt portfolio, blended whiskies and cognac, as well as South Africa’s internationally acclaimed single grain whisky, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, now also selling in the US.
She played a key role in innovating and developing new still and sparkling wine brands and brand tiers, and in raising the profile and reputation of South African premium and ultra-premium wines in the international arena. Amongst her most successful initiatives has been the development of the Heritage Heroes collection produced by the Nederburg cellar-team. It has been internationally awarded and is also listed on the menus of several celebrity chefs. She has also been actively involved in promoting ethical trade accreditation for Distell’s wine brands and in encouraging the wineries in her portfolio to pursue environmentally sustainable programmes.
Wosa CEO Siobhan Thompson says, “I am very excited to work with Carina and to draw from her extensive knowledge of the industry and marketing in international markets in order to help guide the Wines of South Africa Strategy.”
Gous left Distell in May 2017 to pursue a career as an independent strategic wine marketing and international business consultant. She holds an MSc and an MBA, and is a chemist by training but was lured to wine marketing by the creative problem-solving challenges it poses. A wife and mother to two sons, she is an avid wine collector, cook, gardener and painter.
Carina takes over the reins from financial entrepreneur, Michael Jordaan, who served the board for three years before resigning at the end of September 2017 to continue pursuing his interests as a venture capitalist.
At the fourth-term board meeting for South African generic wine export promotions body, Wines of South Africa (Wosa), ex-Distell group brand director, Carina Gous was appointed as their new non-executive chairperson.
As Distell’s brand director: Luxury Wines & Spirits, her portfolio included the company’s premium wine brands and estate wines, the specialty Scotch single malt portfolio, blended whiskies and cognac, as well as South Africa’s internationally acclaimed single grain whisky, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, now also selling in the US.
She played a key role in innovating and developing new still and sparkling wine brands and brand tiers, and in raising the profile and reputation of South African premium and ultra-premium wines in the international arena. Amongst her most successful initiatives has been the development of the Heritage Heroes collection produced by the Nederburg cellar-team. It has been internationally awarded and is also listed on the menus of several celebrity chefs. She has also been actively involved in promoting ethical trade accreditation for Distell’s wine brands and in encouraging the wineries in her portfolio to pursue environmentally sustainable programmes.
Wosa CEO Siobhan Thompson says, “I am very excited to work with Carina and to draw from her extensive knowledge of the industry and marketing in international markets in order to help guide the Wines of South Africa Strategy.”
Gous left Distell in May 2017 to pursue a career as an independent strategic wine marketing and international business consultant. She holds an MSc and an MBA, and is a chemist by training but was lured to wine marketing by the creative problem-solving challenges it poses. A wife and mother to two sons, she is an avid wine collector, cook, gardener and painter.
Carina takes over the reins from financial entrepreneur, Michael Jordaan, who served the board for three years before resigning at the end of September 2017 to continue pursuing his interests as a venture capitalist.
For more information contact:
Maryna Calow – Wosa Communications Manager
021 883 3860
More from
Markets, business and trade
Does Government know what it’s costing you?
A decision made in Pretoria can change the way a wine business operates. But who makes sure the people making those decisions understand what happens on the ground? South Africa Wine’s Jordyn Goeieman takes us inside the often unseen work of influencing the policies that affect the industry.
All roads lead to Wine Paris
With professionals from more than 169 countries attending Wine Paris in 2026, the exhibition has become an increasingly important meeting point for the global wine trade. Nicolas Cuissard, Director of Wine Paris, speaks to WineLand about the exhibition’s growing international influence, opportunities for South African producers and what it takes to turn participation into business.
Before you bottle it, can you sell it?
A good wine and an attractive label are not enough to build a sustainable business. South Africa Wine’s Phil Bowes explains why finding customers, testing assumptions and understanding the numbers should come before committing to a new wine brand.