Approximately
200 cellar workers attended a series of Winetech study groups in the various
districts from April to September – training that involved both theory and
practical tastings. The winner will be announced at the annual Cellar Worker
Information Day and this prestigious function is sponsored for the first time
by Nedbank and Old Mutual. The function will take place at Goudini Spa,
Rawsonville, and all cellar workers who participated in the study groups, are
invited to attend.
Winelands of the
world, the legal winemaking resources and winemaking processes was this year’s
topic. The cellar workers were exposed to the identification of individual flavour
components of wine and faulty wines in the practical section of the sessions.
After each session, the cellar workers were evaluated and the information on
their progress was sent to the cellars.
For the past few
years, the SA Cellar Worker Program and the Winetech study groups have
innovatively made a significant contribution to the transfer of technology to
cellar workers. Recognition is given to permanent cellar workers in the South
African wine industry for their contributions and at the same time, role models
for cellar workers are being established.
Christo
Conradie, manager of VinPro’s Wine Cellars division, believes that there is a
serious need for training to develop the practical knowledge of winemaking and
general knowledge of cellar workers in order to add value to the development of
the cellar workers' careers. The SA Cellar Worker program is a valuable source
of information for the wine industry to indicate direction in terms of the development
of human capital.
Photo
caption:
The top three
finalists f.l.t.r: Petrus Prins (Robertson Coöp), Gerrie Grootboom (Roodezandt)
and Marius Stevens (Graham Beck Wines).