As part of its mission to help transform the South African wine industry, the Cape Winemakers Guild recently hosted 22 female Grade 11 learners for a week-long educational visit to the Winelands.
Facilitated by the Guild’s acclaimed Protégé Programme, the purpose of the visit was to offer the learners a sneak peek of what to expect should they choose to pursue a university degree in winemaking.
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Supported by Nedbank, Stellenbosch University, Elsenburg College and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), the Cape Winemakers Guild’s annual learner tour of the Winelands was launched in 2019.
So far, since the inception of the programme in 2006, four groups of young women have received this special induction into the world of winemaking.
The internship is a targeted three-year programme which is aimed at ensuring skills transfer, knowledge sharing, practical experience, mentorship and the nurturing of young talent in the wine industry.
‘Breaking barriers, one sip at a time, the Cape Winemakers Guild empowers young black women to dream big in the world of winemaking, fostering a future of transformation and possibility,’ said Magda Vorster, Protégé Programme facilitator.
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Meet the Cape Winemaker Guild’s 2023 protégés:
When asked about their highlights, many cited meeting Lievland winemaker and former Proégé, Mahalia Kotjane as a standout moment.
‘Mahalia’s journey inspired me to go forward because I see that as a black female, it’s possible for me to achieve whatever I desire. I am willing to work as hard as I can to make my dream a reality. This really proved to me that the sky’s the limit; nothing is impossible,’ said one learner in an anonymous survey following the trip.
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Picture: Supplied
