On 16 August, at the prestigious KWV Cathedral Cellar in Paarl, three new Cape Wine Masters (CWM) were officially presented with their diplomas during the annual awards luncheon hosted by the Cape Wine Academy (CWA) and the Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM). This marks a significant milestone, bringing the total number of individuals to attain this elite self-study qualification since its inception in 1979 to 116.
The newly qualified Cape Wine Masters are Linda Birch, Liezl Richards, and Natalie van Rooyen:
- Linda Birch: A conveyancing attorney consulting for Bellingham Muller Hanekom Attorneys since 2021, Birch focused her dissertation on The Evolution of Colombar in South Africa.
- Liezl Richards: Serving as the national sales manager and export manager of Gabrielskloof since 2019, Richards explored Unveiling the Grapevine: Exploring Growth Opportunities for the South African Wine Industry in Scandinavia.
- Natalie van Rooyen: Production manager and winemaker at Coastal Wine Export in Paarl since 2016, Van Rooyen delved into Tannins and Their Role in Wine.
These timely and insightful dissertations are available in full on the Institute of Cape Wine Masters’ website at www.icwm.co.za.
The event commenced with a welcome address by John Loomes, CEO of KWV, followed by a special tasting of the iconic Cape red blend, Roodeberg, led by winemaker James Ochse to commemorate its 75th anniversary.
Awards and Recognitions at the ICWM Black-Tie Dinner
The annual ICWM black-tie dinner was held on Saturday, 17 August at Eenzaamheid in Agter-Paarl, where the recipients of two prestigious awards were announced:
- Ina Smith was named the 2024 Wine Personality of the Year for her over 22 years of dedicated service to the wine industry, particularly for her contributions to The Chenin Blanc Association since 2009. Smith has played a pivotal role in promoting Chenin Blanc as a wine of distinction and enjoyment, as well as spearheading the annual Top Ten Challenge since 2014 to recognize the finest Chenin Blanc wines in South Africa.
- Lizette Tolken, a Cape Wine Master, attorney, and HR manager at Boekenhoutskloof Winery, was awarded the Dave Hughes Trophy for her outstanding contributions to wine education and mentorship. Tolken, who qualified as a CWM in 2012, has since been deeply involved in educating Diploma and CWM students, serving for eight years as Educom Representative on the ICWM Exco. Her influence as a mentor and lecturer at the Cape Wine Academy has had a lasting impact on the wine community.
Vision 2030 CWM Development Bursary Programme
Newly elected ICWM chairperson, Mark Philp, also introduced the three candidates selected for the Vision 2030 CWM Development Bursary Programme:
- Narissa Pieters – Junior winemaker at Rustenburg Wine Estate
- Kelsey Shungking – Assistant winemaker at Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines
- Lerato Molekeki – Gauteng Territory Manager for Beck Family Estates
Philp emphasized the importance of international funding and industry partnerships in ensuring the sustainability of this program and fostering a diverse and inclusive wine community locally and internationally. He noted that the program’s initial candidates, Lethabo Komana and Xolani Mancotywa, are progressing well and were recently featured on SABC2’s Stories Untold on 9 September 2023.
