Meet Samantha Blackbeard

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Samantha Blackbeard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Samantha, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I don’t believe purpose is something you necessarily find but rather that is finds you through your life experiences. What you can choose is whether or not you follow it.

In my case, I didn’t have a grand moment of realization. I became intertwined with my purpose over time – by diving headfirst into the world of wine. What began as curiosity quickly evolved into something far deeper: a connection to culture, to people, to land, and storytelling. Especially through South African wine, I found myself part of something much greater – and it just kept pulling me in.

Purpose often reveals itself not in stillness, but in motion – in doing the work, having true belief and in paying attention to what sets your soul alight. That’s how mine unfolded, and how it continues to shape the path I’m on. It’s a decision to pursue with intention, and that’s what I aspire to do through the work I take on, the people I collaborate with, and the way I share our wine stories with the world.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I work in the world of premium South African wine – a space I’m deeply passionate about and incredibly proud to represent. My journey began with a love for storytelling, design, and culture, and over time I found that wine held the rare ability to bring all those worlds together. It’s more than a commodity; it’s really an expression of place, people, and identity.

Cuvée Wine is a brand that celebrates the intersection of fine art and fine wine. Each collection is limited-edition and curated to honour both artistic craftsmanship and the heritage of South African terroir as a luxury experience. The purpose is to elevate how people perceive South African wine – not just as high quality, but as collectible, expressive, and worthy of the global luxury stage.

What excites me most is the ability to share South African stories in new ways whether through my work, wine curation, tastings, engagement, or strategic brand collaborations. I am proudly working within the industry in a focused capacity, driven on expanding the global presence of South African wines particularly in the US.

Cuvée Wine’s premier release, Vinum Hereditas, is a tribute to South Africa’s winemaking legacy and artistic soul. The bespoke edition showcasing Wade Metzer’s exceptional site-specific wines features a hand-applied lithographic print of the custom piece ‘Terroir’s Mountain Song’ by acclaimed painter Matthew Hindley, blending visual storytelling with vinous heritage in a multi-sensory way.

The response has been humbling and affirming, especially from collectors and art-forward audiences who are interested to engage with South African wine in a completely new light.

As I look ahead, my focus remains on sharing wines that champion authenticity, creative excellence, and represent the immense untapped potential of Africa – not only in what’s poured into a glass, but in how we share and celebrate it with the world.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, curiosity, and storytelling.

Resilience is something that I think comes naturally to South Africans especially in an industry that requires patience, persistence, and long-term vision. There have been challenging moments, but staying grounded in purpose and being willing to keep showing up make the difference. For anyone starting out, I’d say: don’t fear failure. Let it teach you, not define you.

Curiosity has driven me to keep learning whether through formal wine studies, travel, or simply asking more intricate questions. The wine world is vast and layered, and remaining open to discovery has been one of my greatest assets (I think). If you’re early in your journey, invest in your learning. Read, taste, ask, and surround yourself with people who inspire you to grow.

Storytelling is the ability to translate information into connection. Whether bringing a brand to life, inviting someone into a wine’s story, or creating memorable tasting moments, it’s the emotional resonance that sticks with people. My advice here: get clear on why you do what you do, and practice communicating that with honesty and heart. It doesn’t have to be perfect.. it just has to be real.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I believe you should absolutely lead with your strengths as they’re often where your passion and value lie. But I’ve also learned that growth comes from acknowledging the areas you’re not as strong in and knowing when to improve them, or when to bring in someone who’s better than you.

You don’t need to be good at everything. In fact, trying to be can dilute the things you are exceptional at. The key is self-awareness knowing when your strengths are driving momentum, and when your limitations are holding things back. It’s important to figure out that you can’t do it all yourself (even though you will try), but building a team or leaning on people whose strengths complement your own.

So yes, go all in on your strengths but stay humble enough to keep learning and wise enough to know when to let others lead where they shine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cuveewine.info
• Instagram: @cuveecollection