Meet Kiara Scott-Farmer of Nice Bev Co.
Kiara Scott-Farmer is breaking new ground in the wine industry as an innovative winemaker with an extraordinary story. Born in 1993 on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, Kiara’s journey from her humble beginnings to becoming South Africa’s youngest head winemaker is nothing short of inspiring. Now at the helm of Brookdale Estate in Paarl, Cape Winelands—one of the 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Award winners—she is redefining what it means to be a leader in the industry.
Kiara’s fascination with the chemistry and craftsmanship of wine led her to pursue a formal education in viticulture and oenology at the renowned Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute in Stellenbosch. Her exceptional talent earned her a place in the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Protégé Programme. Over her three-year tenure, she gained invaluable experience working alongside renowned winemakers David Nieuwoudt (Cederberg Cellars), Carl van de Merwe (De Morgenzon), and Charles Hopkins (De Grendel). She also seized international opportunities, completing vintages in the Rhône Valley, Sancerre, and California’s Russian River Valley in Sonoma.
Kiara’s potential was recognized early by Duncan Savage of Savage Wines, who appointed her as his assistant winemaker during his consultancy at Brookdale Estate. Together, they created the maiden vintage of the Brookdale Chenin Blanc 2017, a wine that garnered global acclaim and established Brookdale’s reputation for producing elegant, character-driven wines. This mentorship proved pivotal in Kiara’s career, leading to her appointment as Head Winemaker at Brookdale Estate in 2019. At just 26 years old, she became South Africa’s youngest winemaker to hold such a prestigious role.
Her winemaking philosophy is rooted in simplicity and respect for the land. “I have a simple and minimal intervention approach to winemaking. I believe that great wines are made in the vineyard. Year on year, I aim to better understand our vineyards and soils to make the work in the cellar easier,” Kiara explains.
Brookdale Estate’s wines have flourished under her leadership. Most notably, the 2020 Brookdale Chenin Blanc Single Vineyard was crowned 2022 Trophy Winner for the Best Old Vine Wine at South Africa’s prestigious Trophy Wine Show. That same vintage earned a Gold scoring at the Decanter World Wine Awards, further cementing Kiara’s reputation for excellence.
Kiara’s accomplishments extend beyond Brookdale. In 2024, she was named Diners Club Winemaker of the Year, solidifying her status as one of the most influential figures in the industry today. Now, as the innovative winemaker behind Nice Bev Co., she is taking her expertise to a global stage, crafting high-quality wines in a modern, approachable format—cans. This bold approach embraces sustainability while opening the world of wine to a wider audience.
Through her leadership and innovation, Kiara Scott-Farmer is not only crafting extraordinary wines but also fostering diversity and inclusion in an industry that has historically lacked both. From her roots in the Cape Flats to her current role reshaping global wine culture, Kiara’s story is a testament to resilience, talent, and the transformative power of believing in one’s dreams.