La Motte to sponsor promising Cape Wine Master Student Bongani Ndlovu
Thursday, 25 April, 2013
La Motte
In support of the growth and development of people of colour in the South African wine industry, La Motte Wine Estate will be sponsoring Cape Wine Academy Diploma Graduate, Bongani Ndlovu, to further his studies to gain the prestigious Cape Wine Masters qualification.
Should Ndlovu succeed in gaining the Cape Wine Masters title, he could be the first black Cape Wine Master in South Africa and enter a circle of the crème de le crème of wine experts and judges. There are currently 85 Cape Wine Masters of which 12 are based overseas, and 3 honorary members.
La Motte, a household name that is synonymous with high quality wine, previously provided funding for Bongani to complete the four module Diploma course through the Cape Wine Academy.
After completing the course with distinctions in all four modules, Bongani went on to become a facilitator on the Cape Wine Academy’s Wine Advisor project - a Department of Tourism and the Expanded Public Works Programme recently trained 156 unemployed people from townships within the Cape and Gauteng regions to Wine Advisors – level 1 Cape Sommelier™ qualification.
Hein Koegelenberg, Chief Executive Officer of La Motte Wine Estate comments, “It is our responsibility and privilege to support with training and education and especially so when it comes to the Wine Industry. We are so proud of what Bongani has achieved thus far and we are very excited about him taking on the Cape Wine Masters qualification.“
The Cape Wine Masters qualification is the highest formal qualification in the South African wine industry and involves extensive studies. To pass, Ndlovu will have to take four theory examinations in Viticulture, Viniculture, General Knowledge and Brandy and Spirits, and four tasting examinations in Natural, Sparkling, Brandy and Sweet & Fortified – all from around the globe.
Once these have been completed, a seminar beneficial to the wine industry is completed – and copies of these are available on the Cape Wine Academy website and offices, as well as at SAWIS in the Cape. Once this has been passed, a presentation to a board of Cape Wine Masters on a topic relating to the seminar is completed.
Says Marilyn Cooper, Cape Wine Master and CEO of the Cape Wine Academy “Bongani has the passion and brilliance to succeed in getting his Cape Wine Master qualification, we have no doubt. Thank you very much to La Motte and Hein Koegelenberg in seeing the true value of this graduate. We wish Bongani only success in his studies.”