The wine industry organisations VinPro and
Winetech fund the South African Cellar Worker Programme, a series of study
groups attended by more than 300 Afrikaans and Xhosa speaking cellar workers
throughout the Western Cape from April to September. The training included
theory and practical tasting.
Following theoretical and practical
evaluation, the top 11 cellar workers were chosen from
the group. They are:
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Gareth van Wyk, DGB
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Heinrich La Fleur, DGB
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Gert Booysen, Neethlingshof
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Abraham Pieterse, Graham Beck Wines
= Riaan Fielies, Windfall Wine Farm
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Ivan Xelelo, Lourensford
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Gerhard Marthinus, Robertson Winery
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Johannes Pieterse, Graham Beck Wines
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Ferel Erasmus, Neethlingshof
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Bonga Mpini, Botha Kelder
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Benna Small, Graham Beck Wines
The top three cellar workers and winner will
be announced at the Cellar Worker Information Day, which is sponsored by
Nedbank Business Banking and will form part of the Agri Cape Week agricultural
expo in Worcester on 30 October. The topics to be discussed include South
Africa’s brandy specifications, personal finances, stories from the cellar and
correct yeast management. The winner of Agri’s got Talent 2015, Armando
Baartman, will also perform at the event.
“The South African Cellar Worker Programme
aims to empower cellar workers, celebrate excellence and foster mentorship in
the South African wine industry. We are grateful to every cellar who entered
their staff for the study groups,” said Santi Basson, project coordinator.
“The wine industry is an important
contributor to the Western Cape economy, and its cellar workers are an integral
part of it. Nedbank is proud to sponsor the Cellar Worker Information Day,
during which this exceptional group receives recognition,” said Helmien
Havenga, Nedbank Business Banking’s area manager in Worcester.
Attendance of the Cellar Worker Information
Day is on invitation only.