However, its impact extends well beyond technical training, as the Programme also contributes significantly to its participants' personal and professional growth. Winemakers have observed increased confidence, greater initiative and a growing willingness among participants to take on responsibility.
More importantly, during 2026, the Cellar Assistants’ Programme provided clear evidence of its contribution to leadership development when Franco Magermann of Opstal Estate and Gerrie Grootboom of Roodezandt RF successfully presented tastings at the Breedekloof and Robertson workshops. Both Franco and Gerrie have been regular participants in the Programme since its early years. Their progression from participants to presenters meaningfully demonstrates how opportunities for learning, participation, and responsibility can help develop the next generation of cellar leaders.
Franco and Gerrie believe that true leaders understand who they are and what they stand for. They communicate their values openly with the people they lead, helping to create an atmosphere of trust. Both Gerrie and Franco agree that a good leader should have integrity and confidence, including self-respect, and be a role model. However, one must realise that leadership does not necessarily come naturally, nor does a person automatically acquire leadership skills when receiving a new title or taking on additional responsibilities. Rather, leadership develops through experience, trust, mistakes, and reflection.
Gerrie believes effective leaders remain optimistic and resilient when faced with challenges and understand that leadership is not about controlling a team. Instead, it is about creating an environment where people have the freedom to make decisions, learn from their mistakes, and build the confidence to take responsibility. For Franco, one of the biggest lessons he has learned on his leadership journey is the importance of distinguishing between being professional with colleagues and having an amicable, friendly relationship with them. He believes building good relationships is important, but a leader must also maintain professionalism and understand the responsibilities that come with the role.
Gerrie has learned that a leader needs to grow alongside the cellar team. He believes it is important not to take sides, but rather to remain fair and neutral when dealing with people. Franco and Gerrie have also learned the importance of staying focused and working under pressure. Their advice to emerging leaders is simple but powerful: believe in yourself, lead by example, and be prepared to go the extra mile. They suggest that emerging leaders should learn as much as possible.
The journeys of Franco and Gerrie illustrate the value of creating opportunities for emerging leaders to step forward. Both acknowledge the important role that the Cellar Assistants’ Programme has played in their development. For Franco, participation in the Programme provided a sound foundation for personal and professional development. Gerrie recalls starting as a temporary worker and believes that participation in the Programme helped accelerate his progress. He also believes that the Programme improved his problem-solving skills and made him more confident when conveying information to fellow cellar workers.
Both Franco and Gerrie started at a junior level in their respective cellars. Today, Franco is Assistant Winemaker at Opstal Estate, while Gerrie is Manager of the Juice Cellar at Roodezandt RF. Their progression reflects not only their individual commitment and hard work, but also the value of providing people with opportunities to learn, participate, and grow. By sharing their knowledge and experience with their peers, Franco and Gerrie are not only demonstrating their own growth as leaders; they are also helping to develop stronger, more confident cellar teams across the industry.
The Cellar Assistants’ Programme is therefore about much more than transferring knowledge. It is about creating opportunities, building confidence, and developing people prepared to take responsibility, inspire others, and contribute meaningfully to the future of the South African wine industry. Perhaps most importantly, Franco and Gerrie’s journeys show that leadership does not begin with a title. It begins with the willingness to learn, the courage to take responsibility and the determination to keep growing. With the right opportunity, today’s cellar assistants can become tomorrow’s leaders, strengthening not only their own careers but also the people and teams around them, and ultimately the future of the South African wine industry.
For more information about the South Africa Wine Cellar Assistants’ Programme, please contact Santi Basson at santib@mweb.co.za or 0722 988 186.