CWG launches internship scheme to develop young viticulturists

Chairman of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust, Louis Strydom

The new CWG VinPro Viticulture Protégé Programme, an initiative of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust, gives promising individuals the opportunity to realise their dreams of becoming fully-fledged viticulturists after a two-year internship.

"The Protégé Programme is a major priority for all of our members. Thanks to a generous contribution from the VinPro Foundation, we are now able to branch out into niche areas of the wine industry which will broaden the reach of our transformation efforts significantly," says Louis Strydom, Chairman of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust.

"We will start by taking in one Viticulture Protégé in 2015 and hope to see it grow and be just as successful as the existing Oenology Protégé Programme," says Strydom.

Since its inception in 2006, the CWG Oenology Protégé Programme has seen the appointment of five graduates in full time winemaking positions.

"Although it is great to invest in initiatives that show positive short term results, we prefer to take a longer term view of the industry and focus our involvement on projects that will make a critical contribution towards the sustainability of the industry and its people over the years to come," says VinPro Transformation and Development Manager Johan Giliomee. "We regard the Cape Winemakers Guild, with their innovative approach to training as one such organisation that can make a difference."

Proteges: (back L-R) Heinrich Kulsen, Rose Kruger, Wade Sander; (middle L-R) Philani Shongwe, Chandre Petersen, Thornton Pillay, Ricardo Cloete; (front) Rudger Van Wyk

Established in 2013, the VinPro Foundation serves as a vehicle for funding key initiatives that can make a difference to the wellbeing of all participants in the South African wine industry.

The CWG VinPro Viticulture Protégé Programme aims to cultivate, nurture and empower promising individuals to become viticulturists of excellence. Mentored by members of the Cape Winemakers Guild, interns receive hands-on training concerning the intricacies of cultivation practices to ensure top quality grapes for the production of diverse wine types and styles. Successful candidates admitted to this cutting edge programme receive a salary, coaching and life skills mentorship, attendance of selected Cape Winemakers Guild functions and wine tastings, industry networking opportunities and a certificate of completion at the end of the two-year internship.

Students interested in applying for the Oenology Protégé Programme or the CWG VinPro Viticulture Protégé Programme can go to www.capewinemakersguild.com, call +27 (0) 21 852 0408 or send an email to moc.dliugsrekameniwepac@ofni.