VITICULTURE
Bottoms up WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I was offered a scholarship by SAA. I was given the option of studying something else but after gaining some hands-on experience working at Delheim, I developed an interest in winemaking. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I completed a BSc in Agriculture, specialising in viticulture and oenology (the art of winemaking). During my study period, I completed an internship at Delheim. I’ve also been to France to visit their wineries and to partake in harvests there. WHAT PERSONALITY TRAITS DOES A WINEMAKER NEED? You need to be outspoken, passionate and patient (results take time). You need to be a good communicator, to be able to take criticism and – hopefully – understand the reason behind it. You produce wine for the people, not for yourself, but you must also enjoy the wine you produce. If you like it, your passion for it will be contagious!
NTSIKI BIYELA WINEMAKER STELLEKAYA
IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING? Yes, studying doesn’t present you with the real-life problems you experience on the job.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? I have no favourite part… all the parts make up the whole, so I embrace everything. When it’s time to visit clients, I enjoy getting out of the winery; when I arrive back I get to make wine, play and have fun. I like the variety my job offers. I like watching someone drink my wine, or imagining them doing so on the other side of the world. I also love working with my with cellar team: they’re the best.
DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY ON THE JOB There is no typical day – it largely depends on the season. During harvest time I’m running up and down checking grapes and overseeing the crushing, fermentation and pressing. Or I’m organising when grapes should come in for crushing, or preparing the barrels for wine when fermentation is complete. During the off-season I’ll be tasting, participating in shows, visiting clients and doing my paperwork.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT? I’ve noticed that when people want to become winemakers, they have an idea in their heads and often focus only on the fun aspects of the job. In reality that’s actually just the cherry on top. You have to be realistic – start at the bottom and work up. Cleaning and admin form part of the job. Winemaking is hard work, but rewarding.
YOU NEED TO BE OUTSPOKEN, PASSIONATE AND PATIENT
44 // POST MATRIC 2015
pm2015_QA_WINE MAKER.indd 44
2015/05/21 11:23 AM