How awesome would it be if winemaking was as easy as squeezing a grape and draining the juice out of it and – boom! – you have wine? Sadly, that’s not the case. It’s much harder than you can imagine. This is why the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme exists.
The Cape Winemakers Guild is a mentorship scheme that develops and empowers young, skilled protégés to become masters in winemaking and viticulture. With an addition of three protégés: Peter Vakele, Sydney Mello and Maryna Huysamen, the Cape Winemakers GuildProtégé Programme has now reached a total of 20 students.
Amorim Cork has donated R81 000 to the scheme to help fund the programme’s business management courses. Amorim Cork, producers of the world’s finest natural cork stoppers, is delighted to be associated with the Cape Winemakers Guild. Both establishments are passionate about wine quality and excellence, and the advancement of the wine industry in SA.
In November/December 2016, nine students and two lecturers from Elsenburg Agricultural College will embark on a journey through the vineyards and cellars of Portugal and France. This is to allow students to be exposed to international wines. The Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust has provided R100 000 to fund the tour, while the Cape Winemakers Guild’s members will donate rare wines to be auctioned, also as a fundraising initiative for the tour.
Besides encouraging independence, Cape Winemakers Guild also grants wishes. After the 2016 harvest, the second-year protégés’ dreams of creating their first wines will come true. They’ll be guided through the process from choosing barrels to choosing their own flavours. The French oak barrels by the Cape Cooperage Group has been sponsoring this initiative for the past six years. Consol Glass and Amorim Cork also encourage the project by donating their bottles and corks for the protégés’ wines.
Calling all wine fanatics! On Thursday, 18 August 2016, the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase takes place. This is a public wine tasting where the wines of 47 Cape Winemakers Guild’s members will be presented. You’ll be able to taste unique wines that have been crafted exclusively in small volumes for the event. The members present some of their celebrated flagship offerings which have been issued under their own brands.
At the showcase, you will have the chance to contribute towards the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust, where you can bid on rare signed bottles from previous Guild auctions. It will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 6 pm until 9 pm. Tickets cost R250 at Webtickets, and include a complimentary Spiegelau tasting glass. If you can’t attend the event in person, telephonic and proxy bidding options are also possible. Call or email for more information.
OF NOTE
Where De Beers Avenue, Somerset West
Contact +27 21 852 0408, [email protected]
Photography courtesy CWG, Amorim Cork, Consol Glass, Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase: Cape Town
hum du bon vin