Thornton Pillay works as a winemaker for The Drift Estate, Black Oystercatcher, and Bruce Jack Wines. Thornton is a pioneer.
“Being the first South African winemaker of Indian origin is at times overwhelming - there was a time in my life that I couldn’t see this being possible. I see this as part of a giant leap for transformation in South Africa,” Thornton says.
“I intend to use this as a platform to motivate young people who feel that there are barriers to their prosperity in our country. With good thoughts and the right actions, any dream can be a reality,” Thornton says of his unparalleled path.
In Durban, Thornton’s parents, Sagie and Yasmin worked in the fruit and vegetable distribution sector, which Thornton says inspired him to value discipline and hard work.
“My father later went on to farming vegetables. Accompanying him to the farm and assisting him there, is what attracted me to the world of agriculture. I loved the environment, its challenges and working with my hands. This motivated me to enroll at Weston Agricultural College, where I completed matric,” Thornton says.
As a student at Weston Agricultural College, Thornton was introduced to the wine industry.
“All along, a grape was just a fruit. Little did I know, it could be transformed into a unique piece of art in the form of wine. I was perplexed by the entire process of producing wine and decided to do more research regarding this profession,” Thornton says.
His research endeared him towards winemaking as a career. During his matric year, he was awarded a Bursary through the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for a Bachelors Degree in Viticulture and Oenology.
Moving to the Western Cape presented unprecedented problems for Thornton. He says: “financially, it was difficult at times and I did not have a vehicle to get around until my final year. I completed my bachelor’s degree within 3 years, with the majority of my lectures being delivered in Afrikaans. The cultural and economic differences were palpable. But in retrospect, those difficulties have shaped me into a mature and innovative winemaker, with an appreciation for hard work and humility.”
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