Young SA winemakers head for France

Elmarie Botes and Heinrich Kulsen, the first protégés to take part in the exchange programme, will be enrolled at the Centre of Vocational Training and Agricultural Promotion (CFPPA) in Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy.

Sponsored by the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust since 2006, the Protégé Programme is a three year internship programme which seeks to transform the wine industry.

“Our participation in the Protégé Programme was inspired by the need to help transform the South African wine industry by empowering talented young people from historically disadvantaged communities to enter this profession,” said Kone Gugushe, Divisional Executive for Corporate Social Responsibility at Nedbank.

In conjunction with the formal learnership path of the Burgundy Exchange Programme, Botes, who is currently working under the mentorship of Guild member Gary Jordan of Jordan Wines and Kulsen, who is working alongside Guild Chairman Jeff Grier at Villiera, will get their hands dirty on various small family-owned wine estates throughout the French wine growing region.

Students interested in applying for the Protégé Programme can visit the Guild’s website at www.capewinemakersguild.com