New Cape wine masters cover broad industry spectrum
On Friday 4 May 2012, the Cape Wine Academy and the Institute of Cape Wine Masters welcomed four new graduates its ranks at a ceremony at Morgenster Estate in Somerset West. The graduates represent a broad spectrum of occupational interests: Lizette Tolken is an attorney, Raymond Noppé a logistics controller for a wine company, Derek Ramsden, a former entrepreneur turned wine consultant and Dave March, a former athlete and retired teacher and education manager, is now a freelance wine writer.
Each candidate also won a special award: Tolken for Viticulture, Noppé for Viniculture, March for Sparkling Wine and the Brandy Award to Ramsden. Tolken's topic was Cabernet Franc in South Africa and across the globe; Noppé dealt with the Chinese wine market and its potential as a global wine export destination; March focused on Wine investment in South Africa, and Ramsden placed South African brandy in an international context. March also received the Villiera Sabrage Award for Sparkling wine presented by Cathy Brewer of Villiera.
Dr Paul Clüver of Paul Cluver Wines and De Rust Estate in Elgin was designated Wine Personality of the Year, for his visionary contribution to the wine industry, encompassing biodiversity, conservation and environmental tourism as well as black empowerment initiatives over many years. His award was presented at a gala dinner on Saturday 5 May.
"Over the last 28 years, 197 candidates have enrolled as Cape Wine Masters (CWM), of whom 82 (42 men and 40 women) have qualified and 22 are studying at present," said chairman Andy Roediger CWM.
To read the dissertations, go to www.capewinemasters.co.za.
