Education sits at the heart of our mission. When Zukani Metshane, the dedicated youth development programme manager for the Pebbles Project, reached out to wine.co.za with a vision to connect local youth with meaningful opportunities, we immediately shared his enthusiasm. We were keen to craft a programme that met their needs precisely where it mattered most.
That collaboration quickly bore fruit. Just a few weeks later, we have proudly completed our inaugural Wine Service Essentials course, designed and delivered by our very experienced and professional lead trainer, Neil Tabraham, fondly refered to as "Mr Neil" by the end of the week!
This intensive 4-day training was recently delivered to 15 young individuals in Stellenbosch, hand-picked by Pebbles Project as those most likely to benefit. Our goal was simple: to equip them with the skills necessary for successful work placements and long-term careers within the dynamic wine industry. And all 15 passed and will be moving on to their work placements in the industry for the season.
"Working alongside wine.co.za has shown what can happen when the industry opens its doors to the next generation. Our goal is to empower youth with real skills, exposure, and confidence to take up meaningful roles in this space, and this partnership made that vision real," says Zukani.
The training was not confined to theory. A crucial element of the course incorporated a dedicated day of exposure to the practical side of the industry: the wine-tasting experience itself, a rare opportunity for many of these young individuals.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Beyerskloof and Christiaan van den Heever for generously hosting our enthusiastic group. The morning provided invaluable immersion, including a guided tasting focused on South Africa's signature variety which is celebrating its centenary this year, Pinotage. Next, they went on an educational cellar tour where they learned about the winemaking process.
For those of us who have worked in the industry for decades, it is easy to take these fundamentals for granted. It was therefore incredibly heart-warming and motivating to witness the wide-eyed curiosity and hear the insightful questions posed by these youngsters. This hands-on experience offered essential context that the classroom simply cannot replicate.
Christiaan van den Heever from Beyerskloof showcasing their cellar to the Pebbles Project youth cohort.
There are many jobs available in the world of wine, not just wine advisor jobs, and Neil also took them through the kinds of opportunities available and what kind of training they could do to further their careers.
Many young adults living on farms often have limited access to the opportunities and support they need to build a better future. The Pebbles Project Youth Development Programme (YDP) helps bridge that gap by providing guidance and information to young people aged 15 to 25 as they explore their career paths and plan for their futures. Through mentorship, information, and skills development, the programme empowers them to make informed choices to grow into confident, responsible members of their communities.
The YDP is offered at two dedicated Youth Development Centres (YDCs): one in Stellenbosch and one at the Pebbles Hemel-en-Aarde Education Project (HEAEP) in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus. Through partnerships with local external service providers, the YDP offers a wide range of skills development, workshops, training, and work readiness support to help young adults gain independence and take charge of their futures.
The delighted Stellenbosch Pebbles Project youth graduates.
wine.co.za's DTC Academy offers training for wine advisors and have recently completed our training for the year, upskilling 120+ tasting room staff, including 30 PYDA alumni, as part of a South Africa Wine-funded program. Click HERE to read more.
We look forward to working alongside Pebbles in 2026 to ensure their youth get the right skills to make their way in the wine industry.
If you are interested in any of our courses, please email judy@wine.co.za, or visit our info pages to find out more.