Riaan Marais is the well-known Cellar Master and Winemaker at Alvi’s Drift, an award-winning family wine estate situated along the Breede River in the Worcester region. He is particularly recognised for his passion for innovation, ranging from advanced vineyard irrigation systems to refined blending techniques and the revival of concrete-tank fermentation. He brings an artist’s touch to everything from the estate’s fresh, approachable everyday wines to its multi-award-winning Reserve Range and flagship Verreaux Pinotage. His winemaking philosophy is deeply influenced by Alvi’s Drift’s motto, “Taste What’s Possible”, which inspires him to continually seek a balance between cutting-edge cellar innovation and a profound respect for the natural character of each vintage. Read more at alvisdrift.co.za

Andrew Mellish is an independent boutique wine producer who crafts terroir-driven wines from vineyards on the family farm, Welbeloond. He strives to bottle wines that are refreshingly balanced, with a complexity and depth of flavour that express the character of the centuries-old, stony shale soil and the Mediterranean, maritime climate of the vineyards. The vineyards are situated 20 km north of Cape Town, in the rolling hills of Durbanville, nine kilometres east of Table Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Read more at mellishvineyards.com

In 2010, Arno Smith completed his first internship at Darling Cellars, after which he was appointed assistant winemaker at Hillcrest Estate in the Durbanville Wine Valley. It was here that he later became both the Farm Manager and Winemaker. Over the course of ten wonderful years, Arno lived out his passion for growing grapes and winemaking. Being able to create something unique and then experience the enjoyment it brings to others is undoubtedly one of life’s most rewarding experiences. In 2021, Arno decided to venture out on his own and founded the Arno Smith Wine Company, where he continues to draw on everything he learned over the previous decade to produce his own range of premium-quality wines. Read more at arnosmithwine.co.za