There’s only one Carmen Stevens
Some winemakers leave their mark with a trophy cabinet.
Some do it with wines people come back to year after year.
Some do it by opening doors for the people coming up behind them.
And a very rare few do all that – then somehow find the time to feed thousands of hungry schoolchildren too.
Carmen Stevens is one of those rare few.
Here’s why we’re so proud to call her part of the Naked family.
Changing the face of South African wine
As the first black woman in South Africa to graduate in winemaking, Carmen broke ground in an industry where, for a long time, people like Carmen weren’t expected to lead from the cellar.
From humble beginnings, she rose to become head winemaker at a prestigious South African winery, winning medals and respect through her sheer talent and determination.
And yet, when she wanted to build something of her own, the usual doors didn’t open easily. Even with the awards. Even with the experience. Even with the proof that she was more than capable.
That’s where our Angel members came in
The Naked model is pretty simple at heart: we find brilliant independent winemakers, you back them directly, and help them make wines they might not otherwise get the chance to create.
Carmen is one of the clearest examples of how much that matters.
Back in 2011, she had the talent, the credentials, the experience and the vision. What she didn’t have was the funding to go it alone.
So the Naked community did what it does best.
In one extraordinary afternoon, 2,000 Angels clubbed together to raise the funds Carmen needed to start her own business and make wines under her own name.
No waiting for a bank to say yes. Just thousands of wine drinkers backing a brilliant winemaker who deserved her chance.
Carmen, being Carmen, didn’t waste a drop of it
With Angel support, she set up her own winery, and started making spectacular South African wines just for Naked.
Her reds are a particular sweet spot – silky Merlot, bold Shiraz, polished Cabernet Sauvignon and powerful blends that show off South Africa’s warmth and depth beautifully.
And her really special stuff? Only Carmen’s finest wines get the Catoria tag – a blend of her daughters’ names, Caitlyn and Victoria.
These are the bottles she’s proudest to share with Angels. The ones where she goes looking for standout vineyard blocks, chooses the best fruit, and gives everything the extra time and attention it needs to show South African wine at its most polished.
Angels made their feelings very clear
Over the years, her bottles have racked up huge ratings, glowing reviews and a fan club most winemakers would give their best corkscrew for. In 2017, Angels crowned her Winemaker of the Year.
Then, a couple of years later, to mark our 10th anniversary – she was crowned Naked’s first Winemaker of the Decade.
Trailblazing just comes naturally to Carmen.
But of course, Angels didn’t fall for Carmen just because she makes brilliant wine. Which brings us to the most important part of her story…
Carmen’s Kids: the bit that’s bigger than bottles
Every May since 2016, Naked Angels have come together for something very close to our hearts.
It’s our annual fundraiser that helps Carmen run community kitchens feeding hungry schoolchildren in the poorer communities around Stellenbosch. Where 3 out of 4 children go hungry every day.
As Carmen has always said, hungry children can’t learn.
But thanks to the generosity of our incredible Angels, as of 2026, our Angels have raised over £3 million in donations – helping Carmen provide regular, nutritious meals to thousands of children who would otherwise arrive at school hungry.
It means the energy to get through the day, the chance to concentrate in class, the chance to grow, learn and feel like you can keep up.
It means hope. And it’s something to be hugely proud of.
What started as a local effort with Carmen, her aunt and community mums has grown into something extraordinary. And today, Carmen’s winery doesn’t just store wine. It stores the rice, beans, tinned fish and other food supplies that help keep the school kitchens going.
Reading this in May? Please look out for our next Carmen’s Kids fundraiser and help us support Carmen’s incredible work for another year.
That’s why Carmen makes us proud to be Naked
Carmen’s achievements don’t exactly fit neatly in one paragraph. Backing her means so much more than just enjoying the odd South African red.
It means backing a brilliant independent winemaker when traditional funding wouldn’t. A winemaker who used that support to build her own future, make award-winning wines, support growers, feed children, create jobs and keep proving what happens when talent gets a proper chance.
Her place in South African wine history is already secure.
In 2022, she received the 1659 Medal of Honour for Visionary Leadership – an award recognising people who have made an incredible positive contribution to South African wine and to the lives of others.
It’s an honour previously awarded to Nelson Mandela.
And it says something Angels have known for a long time: when you back great people, great things happen.
We’re proud of her wines. But we’re just as proud of the woman behind them.
The trailblazer. The mum. The winemaker. The community champion. The force of nature.
There really is only one Carmen Stevens…
