Dr. Marinda Kruger is a passionate winemaker and data scientist with a rich background in diverse wine regions and an extensive career in the wine industry. With a Ph.D. in Wine Biotechnology from Stellenbosch University, her expertise spans from viticulture to cutting-edge data analytics.
Marinda has had the privilege of working with various wine estates, including Penrose Hill dba Firstleaf, Walker Bay Wine Estate, and Elgin Vintners, where she served in leadership roles such as Director Head of Winemaking, Estate Manager & Winemaker, and Business Manager & Winemaker. Her journey in winemaking has allowed her to develop and implement global wine portfolios, source and produce domestic and international wines, and lead data-driven winemaking programs to elevate wine quality and customer satisfaction.
Her research focuses on infrared spectroscopy as a tool for quality assessment throughout the winemaking process, from grape to bottle.