Cellar workers get training opportunities

Amos Sobashe addresses a SKOP 3 group

Through the partnership, the Guild will help to create new opportunities for cellar workers to develop winemaking skills through formal training. The partnership includes the appointment of two Guild members as directors of WTSA for strategic input and financial support in the form of a R200,000 donation for SETA accreditation to facilitate a national qualification for cellar workers. Ultimately, the objective is to expand the programme to include formal training of winemaker assistants.

"The Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust is committed to education in the wine industry and with our new strategic partnership with WTSA we are now able to achieve these goals," says the Guild's Development Trust Chairman, Louis Strydom.

Initiated by Elsenburg Cellar Technology students in 1987, the WTSA programmes empower cellar workers without formal winemaking training. The three-tier training modules, SKOP 1,2 & 3, essentially provide introductory, intermediate and advanced courses which are presented at Elsenburg Agricultural College as well as centres in various towns in the Boland and West Coast as well as the Northern and Southern Cape. In addition, 10 cellar workers are chosen every year to participate in the Burgundy Exchange Programme, a joint initiative between the Western Cape and French governments.

After completing the first three courses, candidates can continue with a formal range of NQF Level 3 winemaking programmes, opening up opportunities for further study.

Over the years, WTSA programmes have produced a number of winemakers at leading cellars and with the Guild's involvement, more opportunities can now be created for cellar workers who would otherwise not quality for formal training in winemaking.

For more information on the courses, contact Emma Burger on +27 (0)82 851 3164.