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GUILD AUCTION: YOUNG WINEMAKERS WILL BENEFIT

Partner Nedbank has extended its sponsorship of the popular Guild until 2020.

Nedbank, the established partner of the Cape Winemakers Guild for over two decades, has extended its sponsorship of the Guild until 2020. As a proud supporter of the Cape Winemakers Guild since 1995, the bank has played an integral part in the annual Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, as well as various skills development programmes through the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust.

“Nedbank is proud to continue its support of the Cape Winemakers Guild and the positive transformation journey of a new generation of South African winemakers and viticulturists through the Guild’s Protégé Programme,” says Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing of Nedbank Group.

The Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust was established in 1999 as a social investment initiative.

In addition to the Nedbank sponsorship, funds for the trust are raised at various Guild events throughout the year including the annual Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction.

The Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme, founded in 2006, has established itself as one of the most successful development programmes in the South African wine industry.

Driven by the single-minded vision to transform the industry, the programme has seen a total of 24 talented oenology and viticulture graduates honing their skills while enjoying the rare opportunity of working side by side with members of the Guild.

There are 17 former Cape Winemakers Guild protégés pursuing promising careers in the wine industry – from private wine estates to larger corporates.

Praisy Dlamini, the first female protégé to be enrolled in the programme in 2008, believes that it provided a good foundation for understanding what the industry required from her as a winemaker.

“With the experience and knowledge I acquired during my time as a protégé, I was able to make good judgment and decisions in my career. I feel the programme boosted my self-confidence and I believe in myself because of this experience.”

As technical sales manager at Anchor Yeast, Praisy works closely with winemakers in the selection of yeast strains for wine fermentation. She counts herself fortunate in her current position, being able to continue interacting with and learning from her former Guild mentors.

Making their own wines is a requirement of the Cape Winemakers Guild protégés and

enables young winemakers to give back to the industry when their wines are auctioned.