Koni wines

Koni Maliehe was born in Rockville, Soweto, and partly raised in the Eastern Cape before settling in Cape Town. She spent most of her career in financial services -- a world of spreadsheets and risk models -- but in 2015 she resigned to start a wine business. Koni Wines was born from a conviction that the South African wine industry needed more diversity, more voices, and more stories.

Koni Wines is one of the few female black-owned wine brands in South Africa, and Maliehe has built it from the ground up. She sources grapes from the coastal regions of the Western Cape, working with contracted growers to produce a range that spans the major varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and a Natural Sweet Rose. The philosophy is consistency and accessibility -- wines that experts describe as 'easy but sophisticated,' a balance that Maliehe has refined over a decade of production.

The quality speaks for itself. Four wines in the Koni range have received gold awards at South African wine competitions, establishing the brand as a serious player rather than a novelty. The Sauvignon Blanc is harvested at low early morning temperatures with prolonged lees contact to ensure fullness and complexity. The Chenin Blanc, from an 11-year-old block, is crisp and clean with a distinct pineapple bouquet. The reds -- particularly the Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon -- offer generous fruit, structure and value.

Koni Wines does not operate a tasting room or cellar door. This is a brand, not an estate, and Maliehe has focused her energy on building distribution rather than a destination. Wines are available through the Koni Wines website, where customers can order by the case and have bottles delivered to their door. Special pricing is available for orders of ten cases or more, reflecting the brand's roots in direct-to-consumer and export markets.

Maliehe's journey from Soweto to the wine industry has earned her recognition as a Lioness of Africa and coverage across South African business media. She is building more than a wine label -- she is building a case that talent and determination can reshape an industry that has historically lacked representation. Each bottle of Koni Wines carries that story.