About Us

The BEN VINO Wine Festival was created by Doug Cresswell, Wayne England, and their dedicated team. Doug, after many years in the retail industry, was enjoying retirement when the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns hit. Together with Wayne, a successful businessman with a passion for wine, an opportunity was identified to begin distributing a select range of wines during the lockdown.  And with demand exceeding supply, this ended Doug’s short-lived retirement!

In 2021, Doug and Wayne partnered with Ken Forrester, an internationally renowned South African wine producer, to create the Val Di Terra wine label. This collaboration resulted in the launch of 6 premium reserve wines and a MCC, all crafted exclusively for them by Ken at his Stellenbosch estate.

In the same year, they secured a retail space in Morehill, Benoni with plans to open a boutique wine cellar and liquor store. However, delays in securing a liquor store license led them to host wine tastings across Gauteng, KZN, and Mpumalanga. These tastings, often at retirement estates and sports clubs, kept the business afloat while they waited for the necessary license. The success of these events followed with the opening of the Val Di Terra Tasting Room, which still, today, offers unique wine, craft gin, and food experiences.

In 2022, the business expanded its offerings by partnering with Riana MacDougal, South Africa’s Woman Distiller of the Year in 2020, to produce two exceptional craft gins. These gins are now a key part of the Val Di Terra range.

Today, the Val Di Terra store in Benoni features a curated selection of about 250 wines, mostly exclusive boutique labels, while the Tasting Room hosts exclusive events such as wine tastings, themed pairings, and delicious homemade meals, including potjies, paellas, charcuterie, and seacuterie boards. It was these events, servicing the greater Benoni-based community, that inspired the creation of the BEN VINO Wine Festival.

Recently, Doug and Wayne sold their stakes in the business to Beaulieu Mare and her husband Nick, who now manage it. However, they remain closely connected as they are the exclusive distributor of Val Di Terra wines and craft gins and are the distribution vehicle for other brands that are sold at each Ben Vino festival. Doug now focuses on running the festivals through a new entity, Val Di Terra Events (Pty) Ltd.

The BEN VINO Wine Festival was founded to celebrate South African wine by bringing the best local wines together in one place. What began as a small gathering of wine enthusiasts has grown into one of the East Rand’s most anticipated wine events, hosted in stunning venues. Our mission is simple: to connect people, wine, food, and music, all while fostering a vibrant community and supporting the growth of the South African wine industry.