When many think of wine, the regions that come to mind are Napa, Italy, and France. All are great regions that have done amazing things for winemaking globally, but they aren’t the only places producing exceptional wines. This is what makes IBest Wines special. When Ingrid Best launched IBest Wines in 2023, she wasn’t just introducing another luxury wine label. She was making a case for South African wine on the global stage.

Photo Credit: Jorge Meza

The Oakland, California, native had already spent more than two decades shaping some of the world’s biggest luxury wine and spirits brands. Her résumé includes leadership roles at Diageo, Moët Hennessy, and Bacardi, where she oversaw the joint venture behind Jay-Z’s D’USSÉ Cognac as it expanded across Africa. But after years of building brands for other companies, Best decided to create one that reflected her own vision. That vision became IBest Wines.

Image Credit: Zac Evan

Deeply connected to her identity as a diasporan African, Ingrid Best saw an opportunity to tell a different story, one that positioned South African wine alongside conversations about art, travel, creativity, and modern luxury. The result? A collection of wines sourced entirely from Stellenbosch, South Africa, one of the world’s most respected wine regions.

Since launching, IBest Wines has quickly grown into one of the most visible South African wine brands in the United States. Its White Blend was named Best Wine of 2025 at the Rolling Stone Spirits Awards. IBest Wines was selected for the American Airlines Flagship Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport during the FIFA World Cup, introducing travellers from around the world to South African wine at one of America’s busiest international gateways. More recently, the brand officially launched its Rosé, a 100% Shiraz Rosé crafted in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Now available at IBestWines.com, it represents the newest expression of the brand’s commitment to showcasing South African winemaking. The company has also joined the Hollywood Bowl’s wine programme, bringing South African wine to one of America’s most iconic entertainment venues.

Retail expansion is part of the brand’s plan for world domination and a way to spread its reach to every corner of the world. IBest Wines is now stocked in select Costco locations across Southern California, giving more consumers access to award-winning South African wines through one of the country’s largest retailers.

Its international footprint now stretches beyond the United States. IBest Wines is also available at O.R. Tambo International Airport through Big Five Duty Free, placing the brand at Africa’s busiest airport and creating a full-circle moment for a company built to celebrate South African craftsmanship. Today, the brand operates across the United States, South Africa, and Ghana, reflecting Best’s ambition to build a truly global wine company rooted in African excellence.

Image Credit: Zac Evan

For Ingrid Best, her eponymous brand is about more than just great wine. It’s about how wine can travel with culture and serve as a bridge, bringing together artists, chefs, entrepreneurs, collectors, and travellers through shared experiences while challenging long-held assumptions about where the world’s finest wines come from.

In doing so, Ingrid Best isn’t just selling bottles. She’s helping move South African wine into conversations where it has long deserved to be.