It was only after attending a Cape Winemakers Guild presentation at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute that a door to the wine industry opened, signalling the start of an exciting journey.
Following her graduation with a Bachelor in agriculture from Stellenbosch University in 2019, Gina Viola (26) embarked on an exhilarating journey through the vineyards and cellars of the wine world. She was selected for the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme and from 2019 to 2022 she honed her craft at renowned estates such as Spier, Ernie Els Wines and Vine and Wine Solutions.
In 2022, she broadened her experience with an international harvest at Weingut Riegelhofer in Austria. “It was a truly remarkable experience,” she says. “My first trip abroad was intimidating, but having my friend Anique Ceronio, a fellow member of the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme, by my side helped ease the transition. It felt a little more like home amidst the unknown.”
They worked tirelessly and Gina recalls never feeling more exhausted in her life. “It was my first experience of harvesting in the rain,” she says. “All I could think about was how South African winemakers and viticulturists would react if they witnessed our techniques. It would probably have driven them mad.”
While on her two-month stint in Austria, Gina experienced one of the defining moments of her career. Her keen eye detected a strange occurrence in the vineyards. The grapes, which looked like shrivelled raisins, and leaves reminded her of something she’d seen at a Vinpro forum and raised her suspicions. A closer examination revealed the culprit. The vines were infected with aster yellows, a phytoplasma-induced disease.
“Initially, the winemaker’s reaction was mixed, ranging from concern to relief,” she says. “I felt proud that I could use my expertise to help another winery in a foreign country.” Back home, Gina was invited to give a presentation at the Shiraz SA Challenge in 2022. Titled “How the use of precision farming can improve ripeness monitoring of Shiraz grapes and the effect it has on resulting wines”, it was another milestone in her career.
Last year, she worked as a harvest intern at Babylonstoren, where she made her first wine, a Shiraz and Malbec blend, and broadened her wine knowledge. In August last year she was appointed as viticulturist at De Toren Private Cellar.
She finds it impossible to single out just one mentor or guiding light on her journey, saying everyone who crossed her path contributed to shaping the person she is today. “But I must acknowledge the invaluable support of Charles Williams, the cellarmaster at De Toren, who has been instrumental in guiding me over the past nine months. Without his mentorship, I would struggle to keep my head above water.”
Charles describes Gina as very technical, analytical and meticulous in her approach, and someone who leads by example. “What excites me is working with people who are enthusiastic about what they do because it’s not something that can be learned and Gina is incredibly passionate about viticulture and wine,” he says. As De Toren only uses organic practices, Gina’s next goal is to complete a diploma in sustainable agriculture as well as some short WSET in wine courses.
She describes South Africa’s wine industry in a single word: resilient. “Despite the challenges presented by Covid, we’ve recovered strongly and remain steadfast,” she says. “We’re fierce competitors and known for our unwavering commitment to quality in the wine industry.” She’s eager to see what the industry will bring to the table in the future.
Rapid fire Q&A
- Favourite wine ever tasted? Château Haut-Batailley Pauillac 2014.
- Favourite bingeworthy TV show? The Rookie.
- Favourite pick-me-up song? Imagine Dragons' Symphony.
- Least-known fact about you? I was a ballerina for 16 years.
- Ideal holiday destination? Namibia in the summer.
To connect with Gina Viola via LinkedIn, click HERE.