Generational Breakthroughs: The Story of Cape Town's only 100% Black-Owned Winery
Exploring Cape Town is an adventure in history, culture, and resilience, especially when you embrace the city through the lens of Black-owned businesses. Our recent journey to this vibrant city was an immersion into a tapestry woven by individuals like the Siguqa family, who have defied odds and rewritten narratives.
In a country where prosperity is disproportionately distributed, the Siguqa family's acquisition of Klein Goederust Winery in 2019 stands as a testament to perseverance and ambition. For 15 years, they saved diligently, overcoming barriers that seem insurmountable in a society where almost 90% of the wealth lies outside Black ownership. Their journey echoes the legacy of the family matriarch, Nomaroma Siguqa, whose toil on wine farms during apartheid would shape the family's aspirations. “I wanted my kids to have an option and not live the tough life of being restricted to a farm,” Ms. Siguqa said in a New York Times interview.
Klein Goederust is not just a winery; it's evidence of a triumph over systemic inequalities. As the only fully Black-owned winery in Franschhoek, a prestigious wine valley near Cape Town, its existence challenges the status quo. Walking through its vineyards and savoring its exquisite blends is a celebration not just of impeccable wine, but of resilience and the pursuit of dreams against formidable odds. You can seriously taste the Black excellence in the Chardonnay which all our 2023 visitors bought to take back home.
Meeting the owner of Klein Goederust, Paul Siguqa during Black-owned Cape Town 2023
However, the Siguqa family's story also forces reflection. In a nation where 80% of the population is Black, why does their actualization of land ownership remain exceptional? Their achievement underscores the weight carried by first-generation trailblazers, tasked not only with forging their path but also paving the way for countless others following in their footsteps.
Yet, amidst this struggle, their narrative carries hope. As Mr. Siguqa aptly notes in the New York Times, their journey embodies the possibility for any individual, regardless of background, to defy societal constraints. “If it’s possible for a child of an uneducated farm laborer to be a farm owner, then it’s possible for the child of a domestic worker to become a doctor, a scientist and whatever that they want to be,” he said.
Our travel through the Cape Winelands was not merely about picturesque landscapes and exquisite wines; it was a pilgrimage through stories of determination and the unwavering belief that barriers, however imposing, can be overcome. When our group privately met with Mr. Siguqa during our signature Black-owned Winelands experience, we learned that despite the property being available on the market, their bid to purchase was the last offer considered after 8 long years.
The Siguqa family's journey symbolizes the resilience ingrained in the spirit of Cape Town, where dreams flourish despite the odds stacked against them. The itinerary for our Black-owned Cape Town experience is full of these kinds of remarkable stories told by entrepreneurs and community leaders just like Paul Siguqa and his mother, Nomaroma. To end the tour, we raised our glasses in a toast with the Nomaroma Method Cap Classic, a sparkling brut commemoratively named in honor of the decades she spent hand-bottling sparkling wine on a nearby wine farm.
Join us in 2024 to meet an incredible line-up of Black-owned business owners and live your most luxurious life, while building legacy.
Vineyard Tour with the resident winemaker, Rodney
A warm reception at Klein Goederust