When Aslina Chardonnay 2023 was named Wine of the Year – South Africa at the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards, it signaled the steady rise of a brand earning international attention on its own terms. At the heart of Aslina Wines is Ntsiki Biyela, a winemaker whose choices—both stylistic and strategic—speak to a deep sense of place and personal direction.

Crafted from Stellenbosch and Elgin fruit, and aged with subtle oak influence and time on lees, the award-winning Chardonnay balances freshness and texture with a long, expressive finish. Its recognition comes at a pivotal time, as Aslina expands its international footprint while staying grounded in sustainable practices and authentic storytelling. We spoke with Biyela about the wine’s journey, her approach to market growth, and what lies ahead for Aslina Wines.

Image: Ntsiki Biyela, Founder and Winemaker of Aslina Wines.

Congratulations on Aslina Chardonnay being named “Wine of the Year – South Africa”! How are you leveraging this accolade across marketing and sales channels—from tasting-room materials and digital campaigns to possible limited-edition bottlings?

Thank you. We are running a social media campaign with this, which also helps as a brand awareness campaign. We will be including this in our newsletters, too.

The 2023 Chardonnay shows citrus, green apple, a creamy lees texture, and a long, zesty finish. What vineyard sites, clones, or winemaking practices helped shape this profile, and how does the wine express the soul of Stellenbosch’s terroir?

The grapes are from the Stellenbosch region, the top block of the vineyard ripens earlier than the bottom block and has slightly different characters. The Elgin, which is a cooler climate, brings a lot of minerality and freshness in the blending of this Chardonnay. Putting 25% of the wine in second and 3rd fill barrels and 10 months on lees without batonage gave the wine some creaminess and a touch of wood. The complexity and fruitiness in the wine show what Stellenbosch produces.

Image: Aslina Chardonnay 2023 named “Wine of the Year – South Africa” at the Sommeliers Choice Awards.

Aslina is deeply personal, named in honor of your grandmother. How did you approach crafting this Chardonnay to reflect your own winemaking vision and emotional story?

The approach of this Chardonnay has been based on what I felt I wanted to drink and how I wanted to feel when drinking it. Judging competitions had helped me to shape what I wanted and eliminate what I didn’t like in a Chardonnay.

Could you share the sustainability or minimal-intervention practices you’ve implemented in producing this wine? How important is environmental stewardship to your broader philosophy?

The South African wine industry has been working sustainably for a long time. On the block of Chardonnay, we use drip irrigation to ensure no water wastage, and we spray with approved and minimal chemical spraying. We use integrated management, as we are certified as a sustainable vineyard. We are also Wieta certified, which is socially sustainable.

Image: Aslina vineyards in the Stellenbosch region.

Wine for the World distributes your wines in the U.S.—can you tell us which regions, retailers, or restaurants currently carry the Chardonnay, and where you’re seeing strong on-premise traction?

We are in NY, DC, Chicago, California, Ohio, Michigan, etc. I didn’t mention all the states. I don’t know the details of places that have the wine. Wine for the World might help in this.

How do you support your importers and distributors in building demand, particularly through sommelier engagement, tastings, or other trade-facing initiatives?

I visit the US once a year, to different states where we meet and taste, and promote the brand.

Image: Team Aslina wines.

Beyond this accolade, what marketing activities are in place to support the 2023 Chardonnay? Are you using PR, social media, or influencer partnerships to deepen awareness?

We are working on social media. We are working on promotions with our in-house marketing coordinator.

With international momentum building, what’s next for Aslina Wines? Are you planning to expand production, explore new varietals or regions, or invest in vineyard ownership?

We are working on expanding the market so that we can increase production. We now have a tasting room, and the rest will follow as we grow.

Image: Tasting Room - Aslina Wines.

Conclusion

The win at Sommeliers Choice is just one piece of a longer story Biyela is writing—one shaped by a considered approach to expansion, steady marketing efforts, and a clear sense of what she wants Aslina Wines to represent. With a new tasting room now open and markets gradually building, Aslina is charting a path that balances ambition with intention. And if the 2023 Chardonnay is any indication, there’s more depth, clarity, and nuance to come.

In conversation with Malvika Patel, Editor and VP, Beverage Trade Network

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