Carmen Stevens

Carmen Stevens

You made Carmen's dream of making her own wine come true.


About Carmen Stevens

  • Carmen is the first black South African woman to graduate in winemaking, beating all the odds.
  • Now she works for a super-premium, top drawer, American owned, no expense spared, mega award winning winery.
  • And with Angel funding (£120K invested in just 8 hours!), Carmen is branching out and making her own project wines. Just for you!
X

Carmen Stevens's Story

"I qualified in 1995 from Elsenberg College in South Africa. I started my winemaking career with Stellenbosch Farmer’s Winery. At the end of the year 2000 I was appointed wine maker within the Stellenbosch Vineyards group, as site wine maker for the Welmoed premises.

In 2005 I was appointed wine maker for Amani Vineyards. It was a great moment for me to work for such a prestigious winery. Now to be given the chance to work on my own wines is even greater!

Every vintage comes with its own challenges, and as wine maker you need to adapt and make informed decisions to complement what nature has given you.That is the joy of wine making. Tasting wines from other wine makers in different countries is another pleasure and a means of communication between wine makers, I believe.

The individual attention to each vineyard block as well as the hand picking of all grapes, according to the taste and flavour profile that the berries displays. Then; all red grapes are not only bunch but berry sorted to ensure only the most enticing berries end up in ferment.

The white varietals are also hand picked into 16kg light box loads and bunch sorted under strict protective condition to preserve what was achieved in the vineyard. The attention to detail for each practise performed in the cellar is immense.

Finally, there is an individual evaluation and selection of each barrel to create the final blends, which makes Amani customers loyal followers.  I hope to continue this legacy of great wines with my own project too!

I have been very proud to win some great awards along the way as well… without wanting to brag too much, here are some of the highlights!

-        Decanter Wine Award 2010 – Gold Award for Amani Chardonnay 2008

-        Finalist in Woman Wine maker of the Year 2009 (South Africa)

-        Decanter Wine Award 2008: – Regional Trophy Award and International Trophy for Amani Cabernet Franc/Merlot 2006

-        Classic Wine Trophy Show (South Africa): - Diamond Award for Amani Chardonnay 2006

I really hope you like the wines I have made...and will love the wines I am working on too.

I cannot wait to get Angel feedback. Please write to me and let me know what you think…

Best wishes,

Carmen"


X

Share Carmen Stevens with

(Pick a group to share to)

because:




You must log in to post a comment.

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next

Wow, what a day! We started the 2012 harvest today and kicked off with the most Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc grapes. I would like to mark this as one of my best Sauvignon Blanc days in the seventeen vintages ,I have work in any cellar. Why? You might wonder, well let me tell you: I got a perfect juice analysis in terms of pH, total acid and sugar. Amazing after that hot - hot spell we had one and a half weeks ago. We made a decision not to panic but to sit it out. We decided to make sure that the ventilation was at its best in the canopy (we took temperatures in the canopy, checked if the leaves was still happy – they too had to be cool at the touch), checked the pressure in the leaves as a double measurement, and when it was not what we aimed for ,would just - just ease the stress with some water. We also took shoots out from the wires to work as an umbrella to shade the bunches – as well as work as protection against the afternoon sun, and wow again the flavor spectrum range from green apple to passion fruit to jalapeño (not green, please but the pepper edginess of the jalapeño) and funny, almost a sultana sweet after taste, just a whole spectrum of beautiful flavors captured in one block of grapes. The tipical zesty acidity of Sauvignon Blanc adds to the refreshing experience on the after taste. JUST LOVEY!!! Now for the nurturing of this beautiful juice to support it with love and attention to be the best it can be. Please keep your fingers crossed from now on and I will say my special little prayer for this tank tonight and touch the tank every morning to make it feel save to perform at its best. My kids came to inspect the grapes after school. Both took some for the teacher to taste tomorrow. I guess they too think it is just beautiful in taste!!! It is 10pm we done for the day , juice are settling into there new home and me I am going home now to check on homework , this year two homework books to check. Wow, again, the harvest has started with a bang of flavours!!!and i am avery happy winemaker tonight !!! :- )))))

Carmen 20:58 31/01/2012 Comment



Great

Matthew 14:53 31/01/2012 Reply

£8.99



Fresh and fruity with bags of flavour. Great balance of acidity providing a crisp well balanced taste. Superb with a light pasta dish. Tops marks from me and great value to boot.

james 20:43 30/01/2012 Reply

£8.99



Nice wine. would buy again

David 20:28 28/01/2012 Reply

£15.99

Sold OutSold out - Try this instead:Manley Shiraz 2008


Big bold shiraz, black pepper and dark red fruits. Full bodied but drinkable on its own or with a nice hearty stew.

David 22:31 26/01/2012 Reply

£15.99

Sold OutSold out - Try this instead:Manley Shiraz 2008
Reviewed in WineDemon


Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next


Login to get naked

Forgot?

Not a customer?
No problem, just click here and register.