Moteku Mawela (26) was born in Ga-motla and grew up in the small Moretele Municipality in North West – far removed from the world of wine. Her interest in the wine industry began through an unlikely twist. “I was studying animal science and we had to do a practical on pit bulls,” she says. “I was completely traumatised by the experience and decided it wasn’t going to work out.”

As she’d grown up in a gardening family, agriculture was an attractive alternative. She enrolled for a diploma in agriculture at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and had to choose between animal husbandry, plant production and viticulture. Animals were out of the question because of the pit bull experience, and horticulture seemed too predictable. She wanted to do something that would challenge her physically and intellectually. “You don’t learn much about yourself when you’re too comfortable and I wanted something that would push my limits,” she says.

Viticulture offered her the journey of self-discovery she was seeking – not just mentally but also physically, taking her 1 000 km from her home and family to the Cape Winelands. Before making the move, she set out her personal goals. “I told myself I would spend the first five years gathering as much local and international experience as possible.”

Her placement at Bosman Adama in 2021 laid a solid foundation for her early career and she left the internship with an enduring love for barrels. After graduating in 2022, she started another internship at Fairview Wines and also completed a harvest at Domaine Anderson in California, where she made a Spanish friend and started learning Spanish. They still keep in touch despite the language barrier. “I enjoy diversity, breaking down barriers and learning about people,” she says. “These are the things that teach you more about life.”

Harvest is her favourite time of the year. “I love the heat, the long days, the adrenaline rush,” she says. It also means plenty of hands-on experience in the cellar. She was actively involved in preparing white wines at Fairview and came to love the bâtonnage (stirring the lees) process during barrel ageing. After this experience, it’s now her next favourite thing in the world, probably because it involves barrels.

In 2024, she had the opportunity to take part in a harvest at Crama Rasova, a boutique winery in Romania. Getting there proved to be a challenge as the customs officer couldn’t initially recognise her passport photo. “As a typical African queen, I have a different hairstyle in every photo,” she says. But after a few nervous moments, it was smooth sailing. “They treated us like VIP guests. It almost felt like a vacation.” She was fascinated by the Romanian varieties Feteasca Neagra and Feteasca Alba, and also loved their version of Prosecco.

Never without a plan for the year ahead, she was still looking for permanent positions when she clinched an interview with The Drift winemaker Marlize Beyers. After receiving the thumbs-up from The Drift owner and winemaker Bruce Jack, Moteku began working as a harvest intern in 2025 and was soon promoted to assistant winemaker. Last year, she bottled her first sparkling wine. “I’m proud of how far I’ve progressed since I started out in the industry,” she says.

Rapid fire Q&A

  • Red, white or bubbles? Definitely bubbles. It makes you feel like celebrating. It also makes you feel pride and accomplishment.
  • One thing that always makes you laugh? People who complain about punch downs. You should be happy that you’re gaining some muscle!
  • Who in the wine world inspires you the most? Me. I have to give myself credit for everything I’ve accomplished at my age.
  • Your hidden talent outside of wine? Art. I like to draw and paint.
  • One word that describes the SA wine industry? Diverse.

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