Wine as a catalyst: the brand tackling poverty in South Africa’s Sir Lowery’s Pass

In an industry where storytelling is becoming just as important as terroir, Kaylin Willscott, assistant winemaker at Journey’s End, tells Sophie Arundel how her new brand, Inzuzo, is using every bottle sold to drive sustainable social change in South Africa's Sir Lowery's Pass. 

For Willscott, winemaking has always been about more than just the craft, it’s about creating a lasting impact. Growing up in Somerset West with strong family ties to the nearby Sir Lowry’s Pass village, she has long understood the power of opportunity. “Getting into wine is never a simple story; everyone has a unique journey,” she told db. Hers was shaped by an early interest in science and agriculture, which eventually led her to winemaking. Now, she is channelling that passion into Inzuzo, a company designed not just to produce fine wines but to drive tangible change in her home community.

'Uplifting the village of Sir Lowery's Pass'

Sir Lowry’s Pass, situated at the foot of the Journey’s End vineyard, has long faced economic hardship. With few after-school opportunities for young people, local artist Charlie Vettori began painting murals around the village to uplift its visual landscape. She eventually began drawing in children, many of whom had fallen out of the school system, to assist her. Inspired by this  initiative, Willscott saw an opportunity to create lasting impact through her own craft. “The wine is the vehicle for change,” she explains. “Our goal is to create long-term, sustainable support for the art series and eventually purchase a building that can be used as a school.”

Building a brand with meaning

Set up in April 2024, Inzuzo Wine Company is 51% owned by the BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) workers at Journey’s End, ensuring that the benefits of the business extend directly to those who have historically been marginalised in the wine industry. The proceeds from wine sales will be channelled into specific, audited projects aimed at improving education and opportunities in Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Inzuzo is set to launch in the UK in September 2025 with a diverse range of wines. The first tier, the Transformative range, will feature a single-variety Pinot Grigio, while the Big Picture series will showcase a white blend sourced from Swartland, a region known for its expressive fruit. Willscott emphasises that the wines themselves reflect the brand’s ethos, combining technical precision with an emphasis on storytelling. “Swartland fruit is quite expressive; it’s bright and colourful on the palate, which ties into Charlie's artwork on the bottle” she notes.

Beyond the quality of the wines, Inzuzo’s model highlights a broader shift in consumer behaviour. In today’s crowded market, success is increasingly tied to authenticity and purpose. For Willscott, the key to connecting with customers is not just producing great wines, but embedding a deeper message within them. “Why only do two wines when you can build a whole range?” she asks. “The more we have to sell, the closer we get to our goal of building schools.”

A movement, not just a label

Sir Lowry’s Pass has long been a place of passage, historically a key route for traders and travellers, but now, for Willscott and her team, it represents a different kind of journey. The ambition is not just to produce wines but to generate enough momentum to make the village a destination in its own right.