Hazendal Wine Estate appoints Kiara Scott Farmer as cellarmaster, drives regenerative viticulture

Hazendal Wine Estate, a historic Stellenbosch winery founded in 1699, has appointed Kiara Scott Farmer as its new cellarmaster. Farmer, trained in oenology and viticulture at the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute and a graduate of the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme, became South Africa’s youngest female head winemaker in 2019 at age 26. In 2024 she earned the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year award for her 2022 Chenin Blanc, the first female winemaker of colour to win the honour.

She says, “My heritage drives me to honour the resilience and creativity of my community by creating wines that are authentic and innovative, and bridging tradition with a more inclusive, forward‑thinking future.” Under her guidance Hazendal is emphasizing thoughtful winemaking, regenerative viticulture, hand‑harvesting, indigenous‑yeast fermentation and minimal intervention. The estate’s portfolio includes the Bottelary Hills collection (Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Pinot Noir Rosé) and the Estate Collection (Chenin Blanc, White Blend, Pinotage, Carignan), with plans for new viticultural approaches ahead.