Planting wine seeds
Mentorship programme celebrates 3 new future winemakers
THREE new aspirant winemakers have been given an opportunity of honing their skills, working alongside some of the country ’ s finest masters as part of the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme.
This mentorship aims to develop and empower talented young people to become future winemakers and viticulturists of excellence.
This year ’ s intake of interns brings to 20 the number of Protégés who have participated in the programme since its inception in 2006.
Under the mentorship of members of the guild and the patronage of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust, opportunities in the wine industry will open up for these three graduates of Elsenburg Agricultural College in Stellenbosch.
Hopes and aspirations
Banele Vakele of Khayelitsha in Cape Town is spending his first year at Ernie Els Wines under Louis Strydom, chairman of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust.
Sydney Mello from Mahwelereng, Limpopo, is working with veteran winemaker, Neil Ellis.
Maryna Huysamen of Vredendal in the West Coast will joins David Nieuwoudt at Cederberg Cellars.
Vakele, a dedicated and focussed young man, says he is determined to learn all he can from the programme.
“I believe the contacts and the experience that I will gain from the Protégé programme will give me enough strength to venture out and start making my own wine,” he says.
According to Mello, making wine is a rare opportunity to create something unique.
“As a winemaker, you get to impart a piece of yourself into the wine,” says Mello.
“It becomes a reflection of you, as a person, and is a very personal process.
“Given all the blood, sweat and tears, including long hours, this is a special craft.”
Huysamen has an immense passion for the wine industry.
“I love nature and have always known that I want to pursue a career in this field,” says Huysamen.
With 2016 filled with exciting prospects for these candidates, second and third year Protégés started the year with new mentors.
Rose Kruger spends her final year in the programme at Kanonkop under the guidance of Abrie Beeslaar. Mahalia Matshete has started her second year by joining the Hartenberg team, under Carl Schultz. Clayton Christiaans kicks off his second year at Haskell Vineyards with Rianie Strydom.
Both Kiara Scott and Logan Jooste, the first viticulture Protégé, are spending their second year with Charles Hopkins at De Grendel.
For more information on the guild, e-mail info@capewinemakersguild.com . For the Protégé programme, visit
www.capewinemakersguild.com .