Faces of Winter: Ntsiki Biyela, founder of Aslina Wines, showcases an unmatched red wine selection. In the Faces of Winter campaign, Yoliswa Masekwana, her trusted sales coordinator, shares insights into Biyela’s unique winemaking journey.
Ntsiki Biyela’s alluring cabernet sauvignon and comforting Bordeaux blend are the fruits of countless trials and errors, each glass a testament to her journey. To understand her wine is to understand her heart and passion for Aslina Wines.
Born and raised in Mahlabathini, a small village in KwaZulu-Natal, her path to viticulture was anything but conventional. After matriculating in 1996, she took her first job as a domestic worker. Ask, and she’ll tell you she knew absolutely nothing about terroir, tannins, aroma, or any of the other wine terms.
According to Yoliswa Masekwana, local sales coordinator for Aslina Wines, Biyela’s break came when she was offered a scholarship to study winemaking. Biyela saw this as a path to university but had no idea how challenging it would be.
“[Biyela’s] English was shaky, and at Stellenbosch (University), she had to learn Afrikaans,” Masekwana shares jokingly. “She was determined to succeed, so she sought help and worked part-time at Delheim cellar to understand her studies better.”
Working as a winemaker
After graduating in 2003, Biyela joined Stellekaya as a winemaker and later collaborated with Californian winemakers. It was during a dinner over a glass of wine that she decided to start her own company.
“She was motivated by the freedom she had as a woman in South Africa. In some countries, women can’t start businesses. She thought, ‘Why not?’ and used her salary and the proceeds from a 4 000-bottle collaboration with the Californian winemakers to fund her venture,” explains Masekwana.
By 2011, Biyela made her first vintage, officially launching Aslina Wines in 2016. Masekwane joined the business in 2021 and shares a similar path as her boss and mentor.
“I knew nothing about wine. It was a luxury I only saw on TV. But I found a learnership at Pinotage Youth Development Academy in Stellenbosch, and although I initially lost interest, I was selected. That’s when I realised wine was more than just drinking; it was a whole industry,” explains Masekwana.
A captivating treat or a warming hug?
For Food For Mzansi’s Faces of Winter campaign, Masekwana draws our attention to Aslina’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, a multi-award-winning wine that also walked away with a Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards gold medal.
“Think of it as a playboy,” Masekwane remarks. “It teases you, making you want more with each glass.” On the nose, black fruits and red fruits seduce you, ending with a toasty, smooth finish.
“It’s aged in old barrels for 16 months to ensure the wood doesn’t overpower the wine. The label features a calabash and grapes, symbolising [Biyela’s] heritage from KwaZulu-Natal and her current home in Stellenbosch.”
Then there’s Umsasane, a Bordeaux blend of cabernet, cabernet franc, and petit verdot. Umsasane is named after Biyela’s grandmother’s nick name and means “acacia tree”, a symbol of warmth and love.
“It’s like a hug in a glass, perfect with a curry or pork belly,” Masekwana says. “The song ‘Under African skies’ [by Paul Simon] could very well be the soundtrack to enjoying Umsasane.”
Masekwana invites you to cosy up with their Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 or Bordeaux blend this winter. Make an appointment and visit their tasting room in Stellenbosch or purchase your favourite bottle online.
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