About Me

Born in the only Province with a surname: Kwa-Zulu Natal but based in the Western Cape since the year 2000, I am an ambitious, experienced and award-winning  broadcasting professional. With experience as a Commercial and Retail Radio Presenter, TV Presenter, Master of Ceremonies, Voice Artist, Actor, Impersonator, Studio Director and Scriptwriter, I'm passionate about making a difference and inspiring others through infotainment and laughter!

My passion for wine stems from a liberal minded Mother, who in the fine French tradition, introduced me to wine from a very young age. She would present me with a tiny glass (basically a tot... for a tot) with a meal and ask my thoughts. Skip ahead to my final years of High School where I investigated and seriously considered a career in Wine. I completed a Marketing Management Diploma (IMM) via the Graduate School of Marketing but my passion for broadcasting was all consuming and my plan was: one day, I'll combine the two!

In 2003 I completed the Certificate Wine Course through the Cape Wine Academy and began broadcasting a one hour Wine feature on Good Hope FM. Its name was Via The Grapevine and aimed to introduce listeners to the wine-derful world of wine in an unpretentious way. It was an hour out of a 3 hour Lunchtime show that saw Fridays become a definite highlight! Until... Management realized there was far too much fun being had and not enough sharing of the wine. So the feature was pulled off air. But never forgotten.

In 2015 I resurrected the feature on my next radio employer, Magic 828 AM where a sponsor meant that prizes could be given away and hey, who doesn't love a freebie? So, this passion of mine began gaining traction and in 2017 I achieved the internationally recognised Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 Wine Award courtesy of The International Wine Education Centre (IWEC). It was also at this time that a partnership with Whisky Distributer & secret wine master, Hector McBeth, saw the birth of a Whisky centric (but covering any Spirit that comes in a dram) podcast called 2 Macs and a Dram. Hector has become a valued friend and business partner and it is thanks to him that Via The Grapevine truly came to life in 2020 via Zoom webinars/tastinars with over 50  of South Africa’s Winemakers, Masters and wineries to date. 

As a visitor here, you are part of a fantastic community. If you know of a winemaker or winery that deserves a place in the sun then please feel free to get in touch. Perhaps you represent a brand looking to collaborate on a specific promotion or new release? My multiple social media platforms will offer you some organic exposure. Perhaps, you are just in need of some purchase advice? I'm happy to help.

Thank you so much for being part of this community. There are plenty of ways that you can become more involved. Feel free to communicate with me via my other social media platforms:

Instagram: @via_the_grapevine

Facebook: @viathegrapevinesa