The Guardian investigates how South Africa’s wine industry is beginning to acknowledge its historical dependence on enslaved labour, while descendants of enslaved and Indigenous workers continue campaigning for recognition and greater economic justice. At Groot Constantia, the country’s oldest wine estate, a museum and commemorative plaques now document the lives of enslaved people who helped establish its vineyards. However, workers’ organisations argue that continuing inequalities and recent evictions demonstrate how the legacy of slavery, colonialism and apartheid remains unresolved. The investigation also examines Solms-Delta, a Franschhoek estate that introduced worker ownership initiatives and historical education before entering financial difficulties. The reporting raises wider questions about land ownership, employment conditions and historical accountability across South Africa’s wine industry.