To earn a place in the annual Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge for a South African winemaker, is the greatest achievement anyone can think of. For a winemaker to know their wine is a very important factor and plays a great role in this competition.

One of the biggest inspirations and motivation to enter this annual event is knowing that the prize money won for the top wine chosen does not go to the winemaker, but to all the farmworkers of the community who play a part in the winemakers’ success.

According to Good Things Guy, the challenge first started in 2014. All prize money is said to be spent on projects that are designed to uplift or upskill farmworkers, their families and their communities.

The video below is a story about Spier Wine Farm who is a regular Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge winner. It gives us more insight into what the prize money is used for:

  • Sustainability Institute’s AgroEcology Academy
  • Teach regenerative
  • Commercial cultivation of vegetables
  • nutritious eating
  • business management
  • marketing principles

“Spier’s support of the AgroEcology Academy is important in that it teaches eco-sensitive farming practices, promotes job creation and food security. It also encourages those in the programme to become more financially independent and ultimately in a position where they themselves can create jobs for others.

“While the video tells just one producer’s story, it is emblematic of the entire Challenge and what it has set out to achieve in acknowledging and supporting the role of wine farm workers. In consultation with their workers, all the winners over the years have found their own ways to make a difference.

“We are proud of the priority that’s been given to education, from early learning programmes all the way through to tertiary training. Not only are there now creches and after-care facilities for school children on some farms. Other winners have created libraries, computer rooms and other educational resources for learners, workers and communities.

“Still other producers have donated their prize money to NGO, Pebbles Project to support its suite of education, health, nutrition, community and protection programmes. These benefit hundreds of infants and youth in the Cape Winelands. Pebbles also extend social services to combat foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and alcohol abuse. And finally, also amongst our winners are those who support housing, sporting and other recreational initiatives.”

For more information about past winners and their projects, click here.

Picture: Youtube video

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