Chasing harvests

Growing up in Stellenbosch, she was immersed in wine, Shannon Jacobs (29) says. Not necessarily through family, but through the environment. Vineyards, cellars and conversations shaped her world early on. “Although my family weren’t in the industry, we were always surrounded by it,” she says. And somewhere, being so close to it, something clicked.

Her curiosity turned into commitment when she enrolled at Elsenburg and graduated with a BAgric in viticulture and oenology in 2019. But for her, learning about wine was never going to be limited to a lecture hall. It had to be a lived experience.

Her first harvest at Waterkloof in 2020 set things in motion. Then came Austria. Then more Austria. Then England. She fell into a rhythm of movement, seasons and learning curves. Three harvests in the Wachau, each one different. Each one adding depth. They were followed by a stint in Hampshire at Itasca. It’s the kind of experience that shapes a winemaker quickly. New countries. New styles. New pressure. And she did this all during a global pandemic. “I think travelling and working as a new graduate during Covid was a challenge,” she says. “It gave me an ‘everything will work out’ attitude.” Today, she still has the same calm, adaptable and open approach to her work.

After returning to South Africa, she stepped into roles that grounded her international experience locally, from Môreson in Franschhoek to Stellenzicht in Stellenbosch, where she was appointed assistant winemaker. Next came a harvest with Miles Mossop in 2024. Each step was deliberate, building towards something bigger.

That “something” was being appointed assistant winemaker at Groot Constantia. “It’s the achievement I’m most proud of so far,” she says. And it makes sense. After all, Groot Constantia isn’t just another winery. It’s history, legacy and quality rolled into one. And now, it’s where she’s chosen to grow. “I plan on staying here for a while,” she says.

Shannon approaches her craft with a balance between creativity and science, and instinct and structure. “I knew I wanted to do something creative and physical with minimal time behind a desk,” she says. “Winemaking is exciting. It requires out-of-the-box thinking and incorporates both nature and chemistry.” That combination is what keeps her motivated. And it’s also what defines her style. “I try to stay open minded and enjoy trying new things.”

Her focus isn’t just on her own growth. It’s on the industry as a whole. Especially the next generation. “To inspire young people to get more excited about wine and what it offers makes me extremely excited,” she says. “It’s about accessibility. Energy. And changing perception. It’s an experience, a craft and a lifestyle.”

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