Next Gen Winemakers: A Fresh Breeze in the Vineyard
The world of wine is changing – and a new generation of winemakers is bringing fresh energy to the industry. They’re breaking with tradition, embracing sustainability, and experimenting with new methods. And their creativity, both in the vineyard and beyond, is drawing in a younger audience.
From biodynamic cultivation and innovative cellar techniques to bold marketing strategies, these winemakers are leading the way into the future. Here are five exciting examples of how the wine world is being reimagined.
From biodynamic cultivation and innovative cellar techniques to bold marketing strategies, these winemakers are leading the way into the future. Here are five exciting examples of how the wine world is being reimagined.
TikTok & Events: Aline and Josephine Knodt
In short clips, the two sisters share everyday life on their family-run vineyard in Germany.
Few people have embraced the potential of TikTok as successfully as sisters Aline (28) and Josephine Knodt (25) from the Knodt-Trossen winery in Germany’s Mosel region. In short clips, they share everyday life on their family-run vineyard in Kröv — blending deep roots with fresh ideas. On TikTok and Instagram, they’ve now attracted more followers than many influencers: over 55,000 fans and counting, with hundreds of thousands of views. Unsurprisingly, most of their audience is between 18 and 30.
The two didn’t originally plan on becoming winemakers. Josephine studied philosophy and media, Aline studied business and spent time working in South Africa. Then came the pandemic – and both returned to their hometown to help out at the family estate. Today, the sisters run the award-winning winery in the third generation, and with clever social media and cool event formats like their limited “somewineandfriends” tastings in the vineyards, they’re redefining how wine can be experienced – and how a region can tell its story in a new way.
Rethinking Umbria – with Luca Di Tomaso
The Italian region Umbria is known for its deep-rooted wine tradition. That’s exactly where Luca Di Tomaso steps in – proving that heritage can be reinterpreted with energy and vision. What sets Di Tomaso apart – and what defines many next-gen winemakers – is a mix of respect for tradition and a willingness to innovate.
At his winery, Vini Di Tomaso, he works with classic Italian grape varieties that have been cultivated in the region for generations, but grows and vinifies them in bold new ways. He blends the familiar with the unexpected, creating wines that offer a fresh take on Umbria’s terroir. Passionate about fermentation techniques, he explores how structure and flavor can evolve through experimental methods.
Di Tomaso represents a new spirit of experimentation that’s not content to simply preserve culture – he wants to evolve it. This friction between past and future is what makes his wines stand out. By embracing creative viticulture, he’s helping position Umbria as one of the most exciting wine “labs” in Italy – and catching the attention of wine lovers worldwide.
Ntsiki Biyela: The Revolutionary Voice of South African Wine
Diversity in winemaking matters not only for the industry but for society as a whole. Different backgrounds and cultures bring new perspectives, techniques, and ideas. The wine landscape becomes richer. A prime example is Ntsiki Biyela, who has reshaped South African wine from the ground up. As the country’s first Black female winemaker, she founded Aslina Wines – not only producing outstanding wines but becoming a role model for a new generation.
Biyela has overcome systemic barriers and set new standards of excellence. Her focus: artisanal quality and sustainable production – with care for both the environment and the social fabric of South Africa. She is a vocal advocate for diversity and empowerment in the wine world, proving that wine can be more than a product – it can be a vehicle for change. In 2021, she was honored at South Africa’s prestigious Harvest Commemorative Event with the Diversity and Transformation Award for her groundbreaking work in the industry.
In our latest WineChat, Derrick Neleman shares what makes his winery unique and how a 5,000-strong community of Neleman shareholders helps power his wine mission.
To the WineChat
To the WineChat
Wang Fang & the Kanaan Winery: China’s New Wine Boom
Wang Fang’s vision: not just to make wine, but to shape a new identity for Chinese wine.
Wine is booming in China and Wang Fang is one of its leading lights. At her Kanaan Winery in Ningxia, she merges tradition with innovation. She uses ancient Chinese irrigation and cultivation techniques perfected over millennia, alongside cutting-edge European winemaking knowledge – a conscious fusion that brings out the best of both worlds.
The young winemaker proves that China is not just a land of mass production, but it has the potential to produce premium wines that can stand tall on the global stage. Her wines are elegant, structured, and increasingly in demand worldwide. Her approach is working. Wang Fang represents a bold new wave of winemakers, who are unafraid to break away from the traditional path and forge a new one. Her Kanaan Winery has become a symbol of China’s dynamic wine scene.
The Future of Wine Is Young
The next generation of winemakers is showing us that viticulture doesn’t have to be stuck in the past. Sustainability, innovation, and creative marketing are no longer niche topics – they’re shaping the future of wine. From Germany to Italy, South Africa to China, fresh ideas are emerging everywhere. For wine lovers, that means more diversity, exciting new styles, and a culture that’s constantly evolving.
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