Our Team
Our focus is sustainably created small volumes of high-quality estate and icon wines.
– Benguela cove Winemaker
Our team at Benguela Cove is led by Owner Penny Streeter OBE. Penny and her husband Nick discovered the Estate a few years ago, whilst traveling. They needed a place to launch their boat; and fell in love with the place. When the opportunity arose for Penny and Nick to acquire the vineyards and residential development, they did. With very little experience in the wine industry, Penny and her husband met with expert winemakers in the area, who at that time advised her to sell the grapes, rather than attempt to produce wine.
Of course, Penny decided to rise to the challenge instead. Diving into it with both feet, ambition and a strong team of specialists, Penny followed through with her vision and in 2017 opened the beautiful tasting room. Today, Benguela Cove wines have earned an international reputation for exceptional quality. The 200-hectare farm is home to one of South Africa’s most ecological and beautiful residential and wine estates, set within a protected nature reserve. Our philosophy is to ensure the preservation and improvement of this estate for future generations tomorrow – and for our visitors, staff and local community today. Connect with us on social media to follow the story.
Penny Streeter OBE, Owner & Developer
Penny Streeter OBE; “We are only ever the temporary custodians of property. Our duty is to give back, to protect and preserve the natural environment for generations to come.”
At one time living in a homeless refuge with three children, Penny has since built an award-winning business group from start-up, with no borrowings or outside investors, while championing her two major causes of women in business and the protection of the natural environment.
Her core business, the medical recruitment agency A24 Group, which she founded in 1996, has achieved outstanding success. The firm provides more than 100,000 hours’ work each week for healthcare professionals in the UK and South Africa.
Penny Streeter was awarded the OBE for ‘Services to Enterprise’ in 2006. She is prominent in the media and on the conference platform in the cause of women in business, sharing her story and experience to help others.
With A24 thriving, Penny branched out into the wine and hospitality sectors. It started with the acquisition in 2013 of Benguela Cove vineyard in South Africa’s Walker Bay wine region, which is part of the residential and wine farm estate where Penny lives. She has transformed Benguela Cove Lagoon Estate wines into an award-winning brand.
Penny Streeter OBE can be contacted at media@a24group.com.
Johann Fourie, Winemaker
“Our brief is quite simple; to combine the best efforts of earth and man to produce beautiful wines.” – Johann Fourie, Benguela Cove Winemaker
Johann Fourie is our head winemaker and is one of the foremost experts on winemaking and viticulture in South Africa. His passion for wine includes all aspects of the industry – from selecting vineyards for our brands, to growing grapes; and from the technology of winemaking to judging on wine competition panels.
Johann’s philosophy is “To bridge the gap between the science and the artistry of making wine: that’s why I enjoy spending time with consumers, not just to share our story and passion for what we do, but also to get a deeper insight into their interest in wine, and to reflect that in every bottle we produce”.
Johann Fourie can be contacted at sales@benguelacove.co.uk.
Barry Anderson, Viticulturalist
Barry Anderson is the resident wine guru and viticulturalist for Benguela Cove UK. He is the Managing Director of Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate, in West Sussex. Barry has a supernova of experience when it comes to golf, viniculture and hospitality. He’s passionate about people and this shows in every project he has taken on.
Mannings Heath is a vineyard with high ambitions of creating the UK’s first golf and wine estate, while sister site Leonardslee Lake & Gardens hopes to produce the first Pinotage in the region. Mannings Heath’s first vintage was in 2020, with the wine produced in West Sussex. With the first release of our English Sparkling wine in 2023.
Barry Anderson can be contacted at sales@benguelacove.co.uk.
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