Moedi Wines, a South African wine brand led by Lesego Serolong Holzapfel, gained international recognition at ProWein 2024 in Germany. The brand promotes sustainable practices, African heritage, and local communities, and donates 10% of its profits to support honey farmers and scholarships for orphans in rural areas. With a range of single varietals from the Swartland region, Moedi Wines offers high-quality wine while supporting rural beekeepers and promoting biodiversity.
Moedi Wines at ProWein 2024
Moedi Wines, a pioneering African wine brand that reflects the remarkable quality of South African wines while promoting sustainable practices, honours African heritage and champions local communities. Led by a strong feminine force, Lesego Serolong Holzapfel, Moedi recently gained international recognition at ProWein 2024, a globally renowned wine trade exhibition held in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Moedi Wines at ProWein 2024
Moedi Wines, a pioneering African wine brand led by a strong feminine force, recently gained international recognition at ProWein 2024, a globally renowned wine trade exhibition held in Düsseldorf, Germany. Lesego Serolong Holzapfel, the creative mind behind Moedi, has built up a brand that not only reflects the remarkable quality of South African wines but also promotes sustainable practices, honours African heritage and champions local communities, notably through the art of beekeeping.
As South Africa celebrates three decades of democracy and 365 years of flourishing wine production—a sector that employs over 250,000 people within its value chain—Moedi Wines is aiding in shaping a narrative of growth and festivity. Delving into the historical context, Holzapfel remembers, “Back in 1994, it was almost unthinkable for any black wine producers to partake in ProWein, yet here we stand today.” This remark highlights the tremendous evolution of an industry that, in 1994, only exported a paltry 50 million litres of wine, but by 2022, had risen to become the world’s sixth-largest wine exporter, delivering 440 million litres.
Industry Outlook and Moedi’s Offerings
While exports dropped to an approximated 306 million litres in 2023, Holzapfel envisages a bright future for the sector, foreseeing a surge in wine exports and an escalation in value-per-litre. She notes, “In the evolving South Africa where teamwork is thriving, both black and white winemakers are concocting some of the world’s best wines and Cap Classique,” emphasizing her faith in a collective narrative of “hope, camaraderie, and brilliance.”
At ProWein 2024, Moedi introduced three single varietals—Chenin Blanc, Mourvèdre Rosé, and Shiraz. Harvested from the distinguished dryland vineyards of the Swartland region, these wines are acknowledged for their complexity, richness, and palatability. Moedi’s product range will soon be accessible in South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
Holzapfel’s Commitment to Rural Empowerment
Holzapfel hails from the North West province adjoining Botswana and is passionately dedicated to revitalizing rural economies. The brand name ‘Moedi’, pronounced ‘mu-e-di,’ translates to ‘a stream of water’ in her native Setswana language, signifying her belief in the life-sustaining attributes of wine and honey.
In its mission to make a difference, Moedi Wines backs honey farmers and sponsors scholarships for orphans in rural hamlets, dedicating 10% of all its profits to this cause. Upon realizing that South Africa, despite its plentiful honeybee population, was a net importer of honey, Holzapfel implemented measures to aid rural beekeepers in remote villages, thereby establishing an economically and environmentally sustainable system that benefits all parties involved.
Supporting Beekeepers and Promoting Biodiversity
“We’ve constructed over 1,000 hives, we’ve provided training and mentorship to more than 50 beekeepers, and we purchase their honey at equitable wholesale prices for our retail brand, Bee Loved Honey,” Holzapfel elaborates. Through this initiative, Moedi Wines contributes to environmental well-being by assisting bees, crucial pollinators that boost biodiversity. Furthermore, some beekeepers also grow grapes, allowing them to diversify their income and become custodians of the land.
For Holzapfel, the chance to engage in the German wine festival affirmed the strength of collaborations and partnerships as primary contributors to success. Along with its wines, the company’s Bee Loved Honey is procurable online and weekly at the Oranjezicht City Farm Market at the V&A Waterfront, propelling the fascinating fusion of winemaking and beekeeping to a wider audience.
Moedi Wines: A Symbol of Hope and Sustainability
In essence, Moedi Wines represents the transformative capacity of a business approach that integrates product superiority with social and environmental responsibility, fostering a sustainable ecosystem that benefits both rural societies and the natural environment. As a symbol of the potential of the new South Africa, Moedi Wines are more than just beverages—they represent hope, heritage, human and environmental well-being. Supporting Moedi means not only enjoying high-quality wine but also investing in a vibrant, sustainable future.
1. What is Moedi Wines?
Moedi Wines is a South African wine brand that promotes sustainable practices, African heritage, and local communities while providing high-quality wine.
2. Who is the founder of Moedi Wines?
Moedi Wines is led by Lesego Serolong Holzapfel, a strong feminine force who is dedicated to revitalizing rural economies by supporting beekeepers and sponsoring scholarships for orphans in rural hamlets.
3. What recognition did Moedi Wines gain at ProWein 2024 in Germany?
Moedi Wines gained international recognition at ProWein 2024, a globally renowned wine trade exhibition held in Düsseldorf, Germany.
4. What is Moedi Wines’ mission?
Moedi Wines’ mission is to make a difference by supporting honey farmers and promoting biodiversity. The brand donates 10% of its profits to this cause and has implemented measures to aid rural beekeepers in remote villages, thereby establishing an economically and environmentally sustainable system that benefits all parties involved.
5. What products does Moedi Wines offer?
Moedi Wines offers a range of single varietals from the Swartland region, including Chenin Blanc, Mourvèdre Rosé, and Shiraz. Their product range will soon be accessible in South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
6. What does Moedi Wines represent?
Moedi Wines represents the transformative capacity of a business approach that integrates product superiority with social and environmental responsibility, fostering a sustainable ecosystem that benefits both rural societies and the natural environment. Moedi Wines represent hope, heritage, human and environmental well-being.
