Venue: Room 2.41 – 2.43
Date: Thursday 17 Sept 2015
Time: 12h00 – 13h00
Chair:
Matome Mbatha, Africa Market Manager of Wines of South Africa
Speakers:
Phelisa Moni, Wine advisor at Spice Route Winery
Pemla Makhanda, Wine steward at the One & Only Restaurant
Praisy Dlamini, Assistant Winemaker at Zonnebloem
Heinrich Kulsen, Winemaker at Nederburg
Meet the Speakers
Matome Mbatha
Matome joined Wines of South
Africa in 2008 after 9 years of Globetrotting as a flight steward at
South Africa Airways and 1 year stint at ABSA International Trade Bureau
where he worked as an export consultant assisting South African
businesses in different sectors to expand and gain access to the African
continent. Here at WOSA, as Market Manager for South Americas &
Africa, he brings passion for advancing the South African wine
visibility and presence in emerging markets.
Whilst Matome’s interest in development of South African wine in the
continent, he is also tasked with advancement of emerging previously
disadvantaged businesses within the wine industry and assumed the role
of managing WOSA support of black owned brands.
Matome excelled in his International Trade Relations Management
studies at International Trade Institute of South Africa and in 2014 was
appointed by Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries as chairman
of the Wine and Spirit Board making him the first black chairman
selected from within industry ranks.
I’m inspired by Nelson Mandela quote “It is in your hands to make of our world a better one”
Phelisa Moni
I'm Phelisa Moni from Paarl a 25year old graduate from Pinotage Youth Development Academy currently working at Spice Route Wine Estate as the wine host, after I passed my matric I couldn't further my studies due to financial challenges I had to look for some kind of job.
I came across with the information about the Pinotage Youth
Development Academy I applied went through a difficult selection I was
lucky I made it to the final 25 the first generation of PYDA I had to
leave my job because I was eager to learn about the wine industry.
Pemla Makanda
Pemla was born and raised in the
friendly city, Port Elizabeth where she has attended the Russel Rhode
Technical College and studied Electrical Engineering. During her time as
a student she worked part-time at the Boardwalk casino and super sport
bar. She moved to Cape Town in 2007 where she first worked in the
property industry. Whenever a property was sold it was celebrated and it
was during these celebrations that Pemla has tasted her first wine, a
Chardonnay she recalls. This talented young lady also did paralegal, but
after a reality check, she realised that people and sales is what makes
her tick. She saw a job add at the One & Only as a hostess and
immediately applied, unfortunately the job was already taken, however
they have offered her a waitressing job which she gladly accepted. Not
long before she was voted as best waitress by the guests and her
colleagues. Now she has already successfully completed WSET level 1 and
has a great appreciation of Pinot Noir. She would love to become a
sommelier, sales rep or even sales manager and being the best in what
she does.
Praisy Dlamini The talented and passionate Praisy Dlamini, assistant winemaker for
Zonnebloem wines at Adam Tas, Distell on the outskirts of the
Stellenbosch, started her winemaking career when she enrolled at
Elsenburg for a B. Agric degree in Cellar Technology (Viticulture and
Oenology).
In an industry that is mostly
dominated by men, she is a team player who pours all her love and
passion for winemaking into her work and strives to produce award
winning wines. When she is not working in the cellar, Praisy applies her
talents in wine marketing and hosting food and wine pairings and loves
sharing stunning wines with friends and family and she enjoys out-door
activities like hiking.
Heinrich Kulsen
When Heinrich Kulsen (24) was
considering his options after school, he couldn't decide between a
career in drama or chemistry so he chose both by becoming a winemaker.
"In this job, you can direct nature up to a point, but then it is out of
your hands. That's pretty humbling and there's plenty drama in knowing
that," he explains.
Nederburg's assistant white-wine maker, he still can't get over the
irony of working a stone's throw from where he grew up in Paarl, after a
detour that took him first to Stellenbosch and then, Walker Bay.
Heinrich, who started at Nederburg in the spring of 2014, absolutely
relishes his job, as much for the scope and exposure it offers as for
the discipline it imposes. Pointing from his window in the cellar
offices, he says: "You can almost see my high school from here, that's
how close it is. But in terms of what I have learned, I have travelled
an immense distance, although knowing, of course, how much further there
is to go."