Three generations serve Simonsig

Denzel Swarts - Tasting Room Manager at Simonsig Wine Estate

He started out as a young boy amongst the vines picking up papers, assisting in pest control and clearing blocked waterways. Later he started helping out at the Simonsig tasting room during weekends, assisting with general duties such as cleaning the spittoons and tables and buffing the wine glasses. After matriculating, he was employed by Simonsig as a junior wine advisor and promoted to a logistics assistant.

He decided to change his direction in 2006 to a career in the non-profit sector. This move saw him working at non-profit organisations such as Edmund Rice Camps and Youth Unlimited, both international social upliftment programmes, which gave him the opportunity to travel to countries such as Australia, Spain and Germany.

In 2011, he was welcomed back to the tasting room at Simonsig as a wine advisor.

"Upon my return, the estate invested a lot in me and my career, assisting me financially and enabling me to complete my certificates in Wine and Wines of the World through the Cape Wine Academy. My next goal is complete my studies towards becoming a Cape Sommelier and to complete my course in management," concludes Swarts.