VinoVista Estates (Pty) Ltd Business Plan › Section 2 › Company Overview

2.1 Legal Structure & Registration

VinoVista Estates will be incorporated as a private company under the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (South Africa). The company will be registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and will comply with all applicable regulatory requirements including:

• Registration with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for income tax, VAT, and PAYE

• Compliance with the Liquor Products Act 60 of 1989 for wine production and bottling

• Water use licence from the Department of Water and Sanitation

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under the National Environmental Management Act

• Registration with the Wine and Spirit Board for certification of origin

• BEE compliance and verification under the dti Codes of Good Practice

2.2 Founding Team

The founding team combines deep expertise in viticulture, agribusiness management, and wine marketing:

Elena van der Merwe – Chief Executive Officer & Viticulturist

Elena holds an MSc in Viticulture and Oenology from Stellenbosch University, with 15 years of experience in premium wine grape cultivation. She has previously managed vineyard operations at two of the Western Cape’s top-20 wine estates, overseeing combined plantings of over 300 hectares. Elena brings deep technical expertise in varietal selection, canopy management, and precision viticulture, alongside established relationships with leading winemakers and export agents.

Thabo Mokoena – Chief Operating Officer

Thabo is a seasoned agribusiness executive with an MBA from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and 12 years of operational leadership in the agricultural sector. His experience spans large-scale farming operations, supply chain optimisation, and agricultural finance. Thabo has previously served as Operations Director at a R200 million citrus farming operation in Limpopo, successfully scaling production from 500 to 1,200 hectares.

Richard Blaauw – Chief Commercial Officer

Richard brings 10 years of wine marketing and distribution experience, having built export channels for three South African wine brands across 15 countries. He holds a BCom (Marketing) from the University of Stellenbosch and has deep networks within the UK, German, and North American wine import trade. Richard will lead all sales, branding, export strategy, and tourism development.

2.3 Shareholding Structure

2.4 Vision, Mission & Values

Vision

To become a globally recognised South African wine estate, celebrated for exceptional wines, sustainable farming practices, and an authentic Cape Winelands experience.

Mission

To cultivate premium wine grapes and produce world-class estate wines through precision viticulture, responsible land stewardship, and commercial excellence — creating lasting value for investors, employees, and the Stellenbosch community.

Core Values

• Excellence: Uncompromising commitment to quality in every grape harvested and every bottle produced.

• Sustainability: Responsible water use, soil conservation, and biodiversity protection as non-negotiable operating principles.

• Transformation: Meaningful BEE ownership, skills development, and community upliftment in line with the Wine Industry Transformation Charter.

• Innovation: Continuous adoption of modern viticultural science, precision agriculture technology, and data-driven decision making.

• Integrity: Transparent governance, ethical business conduct, and accountability to all stakeholders.

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