The Winetech study groups are endorsed by industry organisations, i.e. Shiraz SA and the Cape Winemakers Guild and aim to address development and the transfer of knowledge in a practical and holistic manner, through closer collaboration with cellars.
There is a serious need for the development of practical knowledge, as well as general knowledge of cellar assistants, which should add value to their careers.
Apart from the study groups, which are available to all cellar assistants, a pilot programme, consisting of two workshops for senior cellar assistants, will be launched in 2018.
The aim of the Winetech study groups and workshops are to broaden knowledge and to increase productivity.
- Winetech Pilot Programme: Workshops for Senior Cellar assistants
- In 2018 one theoretical workshop and one tasting workshop will be presented to senior cellar assistants.
- Charl Theron will present the theoretical workshop.
- The tasting workshop will be presented by the CVC.
Content of the Theoretical Workshop
- The microbiology of wine;
- The micro flora of wine;
- The origin of the micro flora of wine;
- Desirable and undesirable micro-organisms;
- The influence of micro-organisms on the quality of wine;
- Methods to prevent or manage undesirable micro-organisms;
Content of the Tasting workshop
- The influence of terroir on wine styles and quality
The following applies to the 2018 workshops for senior cellar assistants
- The theoretical workshop will be presented in May and the tasting workshop will be presented in September.
- The workshops will last 2 hours each.
- Confirmation letters with more information will be mailed beforehand.
- Participation is free of charge.
- Cellar assistants must be literate and successfully completed the WTSA SKOP 3 qualification.
- Participants must be fluent in Afrikaans and English.
- The workshops will be presented at a central location.
- Enrolments will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
- Confirmation of participation, with proof of SKOP 3 qualification is essential.
- The ID numbers of cellar assistants will be required in order to participate.
- Only 36 individuals will be accommodated.
- Participants of the tasting workshop must have attended the theoretical workshop.
- Notes will be available electronically in Afrikaans and English.
- Attendance registers will be electronically available to participating cellars.
- A letter, which can be used for BEE purposes, will confirm the rand value of the workshops and will be available electronically to participating cellars.
- Winetech study groups 2018
The following applies to the study groups
- Three study groups each for the Afrikaans and Xhosa cellar assistants are presented in the different participating regions from June until end of August. Please refer to the annual programme to confirm the dates, venues and contents for each study group.
- Confirmation letters will be mailed beforehand to confirm the study group of the relevant month.
- Confirmation of participation is essential.
- The study groups are presented by a qualified winemaker, Nomonde Kubheka.
- Participation is free of charge and the number of participants is not limited.
- All cellar assistants are welcome to attend, including semi-literate and illiterate individuals.
- The ID numbers of individuals will be required in order to participate.
- Study groups will not be presented to groups smaller than 12 cellar assistants.
- The study groups last 1 ½ hours each and will start at 14:15 sharp and conclude at 15:45.
- Attendance registers will be electronically available to participating cellars.
- A letter, which can be used for BEE purposes, will confirm the rand value of the study groups and will be available to participating cellars.
- Notes in Afrikaans, English and Xhosa will be available electronically to participating cellars.
- After each study group the cellar assistants will be evaluated and the forms will be returned to the cellar assistants at the next session.
- The scores achieved during the evaluation will be available electronically once a month.
- The evaluations will determine the top 10 candidates for 2018.
The contents of the 2018 Winetech study groups are as follows
Study group 1: Cellar hygiene: What is this? Why is this important? Different cleaning agents and equipment.
Study group 2: What is this? Why is this important for the consumer? Different wine stabilities; Different stabilisation methods and equipment.
Study group 3: The bottling and packaging of wine: The final production process before the wine will reach the consumer; Preparation of wine before bottling; List of controls before bottling; Bottling methods and equipment.
For more information please contact Santi Basson at santib@mweb.co.za or telephone number 072 298 8186