The three finalists in the 2016 SA Cellar Worker Programme was announced recently following a further evaluation of the 14 top performers in Winetech Study Groups.
One of the finalists stand the chance to be announced as the 2016 Cellar Worker of the Year, during a Cellar Worker Information Day that will be held on 28 October at Goudini Spa near Rawsonville. The day has been sponsored by Nedbank since 2014.
The three finalists are:
- Ivan Xelelo, Lourensford, Somerset West
- Regan Theodore, Vergenoegd, Stellenbosch
- Heinrich La Fleur, DGB, Wellington
They competed with 369 cellar workers from nine regions who attended the wine industry body Winetech’s annual study groups. The top 14 performers from these study groups were announced early in September, after which they underwent a final evaluation which included tasting and theory and was based on the content of the 2016 study groups.
According to Santi Basson, project leader of the SA Cellar Worker Programme, it is noteworthy that, apart from Afrikaans, the study groups were presented in Xhosa for the first time this year and that Ivan Xelelo is the first Xhosa-speaking finalist. “We believe that the Xhosa study groups will expand further in 2017, as there is a great need for this,” she said.
“The SA Cellar Worker Programme and Winetech Study Groups have been making a significant contribution to the innovative transfer of technology since 2009, and gives recognition to cellar workers for their valuable contributions to the industry.
The study groups are made possible by Winetech and the VinPro Foundation funds the SA Cellar Worker Programme.
ENQUIRIES: Annalize de Klerk at +27.212760461 or e-mail info@vinpro.co.za.