Thursday, 5 February, 2026
Cape Wine Academy
The Cape Wine Academy (CWA) is delighted to introduce the eight students who have successfully completed the challenging third-level Diploma Wine Course.
We congratulate the Class of 2025 as follows:
- Carissa Moutsouyannis, Brand Manager at Oak Valley Wines
- Debra Scott, Retired Pharmacist
- Fanie Geyser, Winemaker at Landskroon Wines
- Jean de Villiers, Radiologist
- John Sutherland, Operations and Finance Executive at L’Ormarins Estate
- Jurgens Hamman,Technical Advisor in GeoTechnical Engineering
- Luandri Boarato, Psychometrist
- Tania Kleintjes, Organic Winemaker at Spier
Special recognition goes to this year’s top achiever, Jean de Villiers, who attained the highest combined results in both the Diploma Theory and Tasting Examinations. The Cape Wine Academy sincerely thanks Reciprocal for sponsoring the Top Achiever award including Louis Roederer Champagne and a Riedel Decanter.
“This is a significant achievement that requires asserted theory study as well as diversetasting practice of international wines to gain an in-depth appreciation of global wines in the context of South Africa,” says CWA Principal, Heidi Duminy. “We join our Diploma graduates in celebrationof the successful completion of this valuable educationand encourage them to share their advanced understanding to contribute to the South African wine industry as well as amongst the people within their respective circles of influence.”
The Cape Wine Academy Diploma Wine Course is the culmination of four intensive study modules and an advanced wine tasting examination covering global wine regions as well as in-depth viticulture and winemaking. The Diploma course is presented in a blended learning format where theory lectures are hosted online with a high-level tasting seminar hosted in the Stellenbosch after each of the four modules. Candidates who achieve a minimum of 60% for each of the Diploma theory and tasting exams are eligible to further their studies through the Cape Wine Master programme.