The results of the
regional competition were announced at a function at Durbanville Hills Wines on
26 September. The competition, currently in its 14th year, is sponsored by
Shoprite and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and aims to create role
models for workers in agriculture. Workers compete in nine categories ranging
from general worker to technical operators to middle management.
Mervyn, who also won
the junior manager category, has been working at the Durbanville Hills cellar
for the past six years where he was first appointed as cellar assistant before
being promoted to cellar coordinator. He has a passion for winemaking and
aspires to studying winemaking.
“My motto in life has
always been ‘make today better than yesterday’ and I think that my eagerness to
learn along with my enthusiasm for the work I do, contributed to my success so
far. My mother has always been my biggest inspiration and by growing up
on one of Durbanville Hills’ member farms, Kleinroosboom, my interest in
winemaking has now grown into a career.”
He will represent the
Durbanville Wine Route in the finals on 9 October.
Another Durbanville
Hills cellar worker, Christo Samson, won the technical operator category.
Christo, who joined five years ago, works in the maturation cellar where he is
responsible for the maintenance of the maturation casks. He is currently
completing a diploma in marketing while at the same time enjoying the
challenges of his current role.
“I grew-up in Tulbagh
and my mother played an enormous role in inspiring me and she is the reason why
I have an interest in wine. She worked incredibly hard and especially during
harvesting she would get us involved in the vineyards or in the cellar and by
doing so my interest and love for the industry started from a very early
age.”
Each entrant received a
certificate while the nine category winners each received a trophy, R1 500 in
cash, a Shoprite gift voucher and a certificate. For the regional winner there
is a further R1700 cash prize.
Caption:
Johan Streicher (Manager of
Freshmark, Shoprite Group); Mervyn Davies (Regional and Junior category
manager winner of Durbanville Hills); Erika Manho-Damons (Development
Officer at Western Cape Department of Agriculture)