Yonela Zondwayo (29) had a College of Cape Town diploma in motor mechanics but struggled to find work. While looking for options, a Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) Facebook post triggered his curiosity and, with a little encouragement from his cousin, Busiswa Dinwa, herself a PYDA graduate, he decided to give it a try and registered for the wine practitioner programme in 2016. It was his first introduction to wine. “I didn’t know anything about wine,” he says. “Nobody in my family drinks wine.”
Busiswa, who now works at Boschendal, is still an important mentor and source of inspiration for Zondwayo. He also credits PYDA facilitator Nomonde Kubheka for supporting him throughout WSET levels 1 and 2, which he successfully completed in 2017 while working in the tasting room at Delheim. There he proved his mettle by making the most sales. “It was a high moment in my life, which motivated me to keep improving.”
When Yonela showed interest in becoming a sommelier, it was his heroes Joseph Tongai Dhafana and Tinashe Nyamudoka who mentored him as he worked to break through from the tasting room to the restaurant. It was hard work and long hours. When his shifts ended at five in the evening, he had to take a taxi from Stellenbosch to join Tinashe at the Test Kitchen in Woodstock or Joseph at La Colombe in Constantia. In between, he studied to become a wine ambassador through the Sommeliers Academy under Jean Vincent Ridon.
His hard work and dedication opened a door to become a certified South African Sommeliers Association (SASA) sommelier. He didn’t just have to learn about wine, but also about all the local and international cuisines he was unfamiliar with.
Qualifying as a certified sommelier has been the highlight of his career and culminated in his appointment in 2018 as a sommelier with Azamara Cruises. It was his first time on a ship and the first time he left the country, but courage gave him confidence. “I’ve grown so much in that space and it allows me to share my knowledge with others who are interested in wine.” He’s even launched a business, the Kasi to Kasi Wine Tasting Experience, which brings wine tasting to townships.
The cruise-line work has taken him all over the world. “My passport looks like someone’s been playing with a stamp,” he says. “It takes commitment and knowing what you want to leave the comfort of your home. The support of family is important; you need that support network.”
Yonela doesn’t say that lightly – he doesn’t get to see his family for six or seven months a year. “I want to lean into the role of brand ambassador which will allow me to spend more time at home,” he says. “I’ll also be able to enroll in the Business of Wine course at UCT, which will allow me to move from the service to the business side and the whole wine value chain.
Yonela has a natural aptitude for the work and is self-motivated. “I associate myself with a Sauvignon Blanc. It’s crispy, fresh, vibrant and fruity,” he says. “You get a whole bowl of flavours in one. My character is like that. I’m vibrant and energetic, I easily adapt to my environment and I’m talkative. That makes my job easy and exciting. I also have an insatiable curiosity and want to learn. I don’t like to sit in one place for too long. I want to move around.”
He advises others to foster a love for what they do. “You are your own brand. Always give it your best shot because you’re your own ambassador. Nobody can portray you or sell you better than you yourself.”
Rapid fire Q&A
- Favourite wine ever tasted? That’s like asking about your favourite child, but I like cool-climate Chardonnay, Shiraz from Mullineux & Leeu, and Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala, a beautiful blend of Chardonnay and Grechetto from Umbria in Italy.
- Favourite bingeworthy TV show? Oz and James’s Big Wine Adventure or documentaries about wine or wildlife.
- Favourite pick-me-up song? Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.
- Least-known fact about you? I’m a huge Manchester City fan. Locally, I support Mamelodi Sundowns.
- Ideal holiday destination? I would love to go to the Seychelles or Bora Bora.
To connect with Yonela via LinkedIn, click HERE.