Saurwein is Jessica’s family surname. Steeped in the history of 17th-century winemaking, her forefathers made “sour” wine for the Emperor of Austria. It became her vocation to redeem her family’s reputation in wine and so after a gap year working locally and internationally in vineyards, she completed a B.Sc. Oenology and Viticulture degree at Stellenbosch University. Opportunities then led her into the world of sales and marketing at first, while she worked in the cellar each year during harvest-time both locally and internationally. She found her way back to making wine by starting her own production part-time in 2015. After the birth of her child in October 2017 she resigned from her job to become a mother and full-time winemaker for her own brand Saurwein Wines. Today she focuses on handcrafting her two favourite cultivars, Pinot Noir and Riesling, and makes three wines under the Saurwein brand name.