Zoetendal is situated near Elim in the Overberg region of the Western Cape.
Swarts is the third generation of his family to work in the Simonsig vineyards. He started as a part-time general worker at the age of 16, working on weekends and school holidays. When he turned 20, he was offered a full-time job and after 13 years of hard work, he was promoted to the position of regional brand ambassador for the Western and Eastern Cape provinces.
According to Swarts, he was fortunate to have access to career development opportunities at Simonsig, which allowed him to work closely with winemakers Johan and Michael Malan and gain valuable experience.
Swarts has completed various courses with the Cape Wine Academy through Stellenbosch University as part of his ongoing professional development journey over the past 11 years at Simonsig. However, what he found most memorable was his time at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business (GSB), where he successfully finished The Business of Wine course. He has since completed a post-graduate diploma in administration through the GSB.
Swarts is also an executive member of BLACC (the Black Cellar Club), an association for individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly in Southern Africa and beyond, who are interested in advancing their wine knowledge for career benefits.
In 2016, Swarts founded Son of the Soil, a non-profit wine business. The programme is designed for rural youth in the Western Cape and aims to inspire them to become responsible and active citizens of South Africa.
We caught up with Swarts to find out more about his new role.
As a young child growing up on a wine farm, where my grandfather and parents were labourers, I was introduced quite early to the beauty of nature and farming. I always wanted to become a viticulturist, but my parents could not afford me to go that route due to funding constraints.
I later, through short courses, built up my skill set and experience in the industry and started cementing my influence and role.
It’s a bit of a broad scope.
1. Sales and marketing of the brand
2. Listing the wines in stores (off consumption) and restaurants (on consumption)
3. Managing client relationships
4. Exports
5. Managing the image of the brand in the public domain.
6. Ensuring that the brand strategically aligns with like-minded establishments
7. Grow sales
8. Managing the vineyards and winemaking
These are some of the roles in need to fulfil.
Establishing the brand as a premium/ luxury wine brand. Understanding the culture of the business and starting to increase the visibility of the brand.
Without my background, I would not have acquired the necessary skill set and experience. The values I hold dear will be a critical part/ tool of obtaining success within my new role.
• Changing the narrative of a farm child and the typical stigma that comes with it.
• Obtaining my Business of Wine Certificate at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business and later graduating with a PGDip in Business Administration.
• Receiving an International Scholarship with the Gerrard Basset Foundation.
• Establishment of my leadership foundation - Son of the Soil Leadership Foundation
Having to work 10x harder than your white colleagues to earn the necessary respect for your craft.
You must love and have a passion for this industry because you not just compete against other brands and the forces of nature but also against the stigma that comes with the industry's history. If you have the above, you make sure that you equip yourself to become the best at your craft, your education can never be taken away.
Lastly, remain humble (remember it's other people’s knowledge that empowers you to obtain more knowledge and therefore calls you to practise the philosophy of Ubuntu).
