Born and raised on a farm in South Africa, I was brought up with an adventurous and outdoor culture. With my parents both being veterinarians, I was raised around all kinds of animals; from parrots, ostriches and farm animals, to monkeys, elephants, and three crazy older brothers. At a young age, finding adventure, exploring and entertaining, was all I wanted to do.
In my final year of high school, the time came to decide a university major. I ran the idea of hosting by my dad, but he quickly tramped that idea saying; “If you want to study television, you study it in Hollywood, not South Africa.” With a strong love for the outdoors, science and working with my hands, I decided to study Agricultural Science. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree, majoring in Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Simple terms, I earned a degree in winemaking. I continued to make wine in South Africa, France, and the United States.
I quickly realized that my entertaining personality needed more. As life had it, the natural force of things pulled me in the direction I was born to go. Finally, it was time to put all my skills to use. I enrolled at Los Angeles City College in cinema and television. Soon after I shifted toward television presenting classes which eventually led me to Marki Costello’s Premiere Hosting academy. While training, I decided to hire myself and begin creating my own brand. With every opportunity, I traveled and filmed the world to educate and enlighten my Grapie audience. The Grape Escape TV network now hosts a multitude of shows. We cover everything wine, travel, discovery, food and history. I take every opportunity to learn and perfect my ability to connect with the audience by being present and authentic.