By Everson Luhanga
- Banele Vakele exports Tembela Wines to the US, UK and Hong Kong after training in France, Australia, America and South Africa’s top estates.
- Vakele won Best Overall Wine at the iTOO Next Generation Awards 2026 for his Tembela Syrah 2025, named after his late mother.
Banele Vakele had never tasted wine before university. Now he is selling it in three countries and winning international awards.
The 33-year-old founded Tembela Wines in 2020. His Tembela Syrah 2025 won Best Overall Wine at the iTOO Next Generation Awards 2026 earlier this year. The brand already exports to the United States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, with Belgium and the Netherlands expected to follow.
Vakele did not grow up near the wine industry. He grew up far from it. Everything changed when a scholarship brought him to Constantia, Cape Town’s wine-growing heartland.
“I was lucky enough to land in Constantia, and that exposure changed everything for me,” he said.
He went on to study at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute and earned a place in the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme, which pairs young winemakers with experienced cellar masters. He trained at DeMorgenzon, Klein Constantia and Bouchard Finlayson before travelling to Burgundy, Champagne and Beaujolais in France, then to the United States and Australia.
“Travelling opened my eyes,” he said.
“You can read every book in the world, but nothing replaces seeing how different regions work.”
Tembela Wines is named after his late mother. The range currently includes a Syrah and a Chenin Blanc.
“I’m here to take on the world,” Vakele said.
“And I’m just getting started.”
Pictured above: Winemaker Banele Vakele is gaining global recognition after his Tembela Syrah 2025 won Best Overall Wine at the iTOO Next Generation Awards 2026.
Image source: Supplied
