A young woman who knew little about wine five years ago now crafts white wines at one of South Africa’s most recognised wine estates.

Johannah Moloantoa (26) arrived at Nederburg in August 2024 as an assistant winemaker, capping a path that started when she left Hammanskraal near Pretoria with a suitcase and little else in early 2019.

Wine was not part of her upbringing. Her mother occasionally drank red wine, but the industry remained distant from daily life in her family home.

From hospital volunteer to wine student

After finishing matric, Moloantoa took a gap year to work out her next steps. She looked at modelling and spent time helping children with homework. She also volunteered at a local hospital for a day, but none of these options felt right.

Her uncle, Tshepo Morokong, was studying for a doctorate in agriculture at the University of Pretoria. He suggested she consider the sector. A trip to a vegetable farm in Limpopo with him changed her thinking.

“I became fascinated by agriculture,” she says. “It felt exciting and full of possibility.”

She applied to Cape Peninsula University of Technology for viticulture and oenology, and to Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University for radiography. Both institutions accepted her. She chose agriculture.

When she landed in Cape Town for the first time, she had not yet found accommodation. She did not tell her mother about the problem, determined to solve it herself. She made friends and eventually secured permanent housing.

“When I set my mind to something, I do it,” she says.

Building a career in wine

Moloantoa completed her diploma and an advanced diploma, which included integrated pest management. She entered the wine industry through a harvest position at KWV in 2023, then worked as an intern before moving to quality control.

When Nederburg offered her the assistant winemaker role, she could barely contain her excitement.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt as happy as when I heard I’d been accepted for the position,” she says. “Nederburg is a household name. To become part of the team was incredible.”

Leaving home was not easy. She worried about causing stress for her mother and grandmother, but they had taught her to follow her passion.

At Nederburg, she has found more than a job. The estate’s focus on teamwork and continuous learning has expanded her understanding of wine beyond the cellar.

“Every day I learn something new,” she says. “It’s not just about winemaking. It’s about understanding agriculture, science, markets, consumers and how different generations engage with wine.”

Science meets creativity

For Moloantoa, winemaking sits at the crossroads of science and creativity. “As winemakers, we have to follow the science first, but we also need to recognise the art,” she says. “I’ve always loved science, but I also love self-expression, beauty and creativity.”

She is particularly interested in regenerative agriculture and its role in viticulture’s future. This aligns with Nederburg’s sustainability practices, which include seasonal cover crops, biochar production, water stewardship and ethical trade leadership.

Wineland magazine recently included her in its 30 Under 30 for 2026, which celebrates emerging talent in South Africa’s wine sector. The recognition has made her family proud.

Based in Paarl, Moloantoa spends her free time exploring the Cape Winelands and travelling when possible. Her bubbly personality and curiosity drive her to meet new people and discover new places.

From arriving in Cape Town with just ambition and a suitcase to shaping wines at a leading estate, Moloantoa’s story shows how taking a chance can reshape a life.

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