I have been a great supporter of the WineTech Study Groups, where groups gather in different areas in the winelands focussing on various subjects to broaden their knowledge. The top students in these groups are recognised and invited to participate in the Circle of Excellence, which then meets at least once a year, taking their learning to another level. #circleofexcellence
Every producer is invited to participate in the WineTech Study Groups - and after spending a few years observing the growth and development of these cellar workers, I urge all those not already participating to nominate your staff. They will certainly benefit from the networking, sharing, knowledge transfer and your cellar will also benefit from their broader experience.
There are producers from all over the winelands already making maximum use of this opportunity, from Robertson to Durbanville and in-between!
I attended the Circle of Excellence session on Friday 2 June at Slanghoek in the Rawsonville area, where Charles Botha, Slanghoek's Senior Cellar Worker, took the group through their massive cellar, which certainly impressed the group! There were many questions around their different processes and procedures.
This cellar produces 32 million litres of wine annually - mostly in bulk sold to DGB, Distell and others, and for those attendees whose cellars produce around 60 000 litres it was an eye opener!
The Circle of Excellence Group
Nomonde Kubheka, facilitator of the Winetech Studygroups, Adam Alexander, Rupert & Rothschild; Anthony Mbombo, Vrede & Lust; Hennus Trotzky, Slanghoek; Regan Theodore, Vergenoegd; Norman Ketelo, De Grendel; Benna Smal, Graham Beck; Joseph Phiri, De Grendel, Santi Basson, Project Manager, Heinrich la Fleur, DGB Wellington; Gerrie Grootboom, Roodezandt; Jonas Cupido, Van Loveren; Riaan Fielies, Windfall Farm; Charles Botha, Slanghoek Cellar & Gert Booysen, Neethlingshof.
Pieter Carstens (Cellar Master & GM) and Hennus Trotzky (Financial Manager) shared more info about Slanghoek Cellar and its history, membership, financial structures, which was also really interesting for everyone.
As a group, we also had a wonderful opportunity to blend red wine from Slanghoek, using their Pinotage, Cabernet and Shiraz, and ably guided by their red wine winemaker Werner du Plessis. There was much chatter and trial, and we were all very chuffed at the end after producing, bottling, corking, closing and labelling our own wines!
See more photos HERE of the day.
Thanks to WineTech for facilitating these sessions.
If any producer would like to participate in the CellarWorker program and Study Groups, do contact Project Manager Santi Basson on santib@mweb.co.za or take a look at our SA CellarWorker Spotlight Page for more info.