Growing up in Pretoria, Johannah Shibe Moloantoa (26) admits she didn’t know much about wine at the time. “We only saw wine on the shelves,” she says. After high school, she considered modelling, but her mom, Mosidi Moloantoa, encouraged her to find a more stable path.

While taking a gap year, she helped kids with their homework and did a short stint at a hospital, but nothing clicked. That all changed when her uncle, Tshepo Morokong, suggested she look into agriculture. He was registered for doctoral studies in agriculture at the University of Pretoria and invited her to see what he was working on. It sparked her interest in agriculture and eventually led her to the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). She initially wanted to do a course in agriculture, but on the advice of her grandmother, Melda Nkoko, she decided on viticulture and oenology. “I’m that kind of person,” she says. “If I like something, I make sure I go for it.”

Moving to the Western Cape brought its own set of challenges. There were moments when leaving seemed like the only way out. One night, feeling homesick and tired, she called her mom to say she was coming home. But when morning came, something had shifted and she decided to stay. Encouragement from her family and lecturers, especially Dr Nel, kept her motivated.

By the time she reached her second year, she’d discovered a real joy in making wine. She fondly remembers how they had to create their own wine from Chenin Blanc and Pinotage in CPUT’s small cellar and then present it to the class. She named her wine Love Back, suggesting that while there wasn’t love at first, it grew into something special.

When her grandmother passed away in 2021, she went home to complete her diploma. She had to choose between a practical part or research, but because of her situation, she opted for research and continued her studies remotely. “It was a very tough year,” she says. But with Dr Nel and her mom’s support, she stayed on track with her studies. “Every morning before work, my mom told me not to give up and keep moving on.”

In 2022, she returned to the Western Cape to study for an Advanced Diploma in viticulture alongside oenology. She started her first formal job as a data capturer before stepping into the cellar full time. Her hands-on experience began at KWV, where she worked two harvests in both white and red wine production alongside Kobus van der Merwe and Sacha Muller. “They were both great to learn from,” she says. Viticulturist Oursula Lenee also played a huge role in her journey at KWV and the overall growth, which is still ongoing. After a short time in quality control, she joined Nederburg as an assistant winemaker in 2024 under Jamie Williams, a 30 Under 30 alumni from 2020. “Jamie is amazing,” she says. “She pushes you to be your best and encourages you to learn as much as you can.”

Her approach to winemaking is all about teamwork and showing emotion in the final product. “You can make good wine, but if it’s not made with love, you can taste it at the end of the day,” she says. For her, the real reward is seeing people enjoy the wine. Watching customers taste the wine, smile and share compliments is what makes her happy.

This mindset has led to some great achievements, such as her role in the Nederburg Heritage Heroes Anchorman CHB 2024, which earned 95 points at the Decanter Awards.

She advises young, aspiring winemakers to never give up and stay focused. She talks from experience. “Do something you love and don’t hold yourself back,” she says.

Rapid fire Q&A

  • Red, white or bubbles? White.
  • One thing that always makes you laugh? Sarcastic jokes.
  • Who in the wine world inspires you the most? Everyone who’s crossed my wine journey.
  • Your hidden talent outside of wine? I can sing, bake and play chess.
  • One word that describes the SA wine industry? Interesting.

Social media

Instagram:@shizzymoloantoa