Cellar assistants participating in the Winetech 2021 study groups learned more about post-fermentation processes, which included lees contact, clarification of young wines and filtration. The maturation of wine; stabilisation and blending of wines, including bottling and packaging were of great interest to participants. In the third and final study group, participants learned more about wine faults and microbiological spoilage, unacceptable quality characteristics of wine and the sensory identification of wine. Three faulty wines were compared to a control wine to practically illustrate common wine faults.

Winetech annually acknowledges cellar assistants who excelled in the evaluations which took place in the study groups. The completion of and participation in the three evaluations is voluntary and cellar assistants are in no way disadvantaged should they choose not to complete the evaluations.

Last year it was decided to acknowledge a larger group of cellar assistants and announce achievers in two categories, namely a category for achievers who achieved an average mark of 80% and above in the evaluations and a second category for achievers, who achieved an average mark of between 70% and 79%. The names of the achievers in the two categories are placed in no specific order.

Winetech congratulates cellar assistants in the two categories for their outstanding achievements.

  1. Achievers in the category 80% and above:
  • Westley Arendse, Villion Family Wines
  • Hendriko Smith, Villion Family Wines
  • Eugene Markgraaff, Keimoes, Orange River Cellars
  • Cirel Isaacks, Upington, Orange River Cellars
  • Frans Louw, Upington, Orange River Cellars
  • Eugene Eiman, Keimoes, Orange River Cellars
  • Edien Pelele, Keimoes, Orange River Cellars
  • Reginald du Plessis, Keimoes, Orange River Cellars
  • Keith Smit, Grootdrink, Orange River Cellars
  • Melvin Hugo, Upington, Orange River Cellars
  • Jermaine Jansen, Upington, Orange River Cellars
  • Johnny Swartz, Kakamas, Orange River Cellars
  • Pieter Snyers, Kakamas, Orange River Cellars
  • Freddie Phuti, Kakamas, Orange River Cellars
  • Eric Phuti, Kakamas, Orange River Cellars
  • Albert Galobewe, Keimoes, Orange River Cellars
  • Dawie Pieters, Keimoes, Orange River Cellars
  • Jani van Wyk, Groblershoop, Orange River Cellars
  • Ashley Esau, Grootdrink, Orange River Cellars
  • Evin Pretorius, PET, Orange River Cellars
  • Dirk van Wyk, Kakamas, Orange River Cellars
  • Daniel Goliath, Upington, Orange River Cellars.
  1. Achievers in the category 70% to79%:
  • Haven Smith, Villion Family Wines
  • Danwill Arries, Eenzaamheid
  • Naithan Adams, Morgenster
  • Godfrey Josiah, La Motte
  • Jonovan van Niekerk, La Motte
  • Charmaine Arendse, Esona
  • Nkosana Dube, La Bri
  • Jan Selon, Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons
  • Nkosekhaya Tshansthane, Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons
  • Charles Matlakala, Stellenzicht Wines
  • Joinery Jonkers, Beaumont Family Wines
  • Riedewaan Hendricks, Bosman Adama
  • Charles Botha, Slanghoek Wine Cellar
  • Quinton Elias, Warwick Wines
  • Conroy Kouter, Waterkloof Wines
  • Roelien Harolds, Waterkloof Wines
  • Desroy Jafta, Neethlingshof
  • Richard Willemse, Keimoes, Orange River Cellars
  • Adolf Witbooi, Kakamas, Orange River Cellars
  • Benedict Booysen, Kakamas, Orange River Cellars.