Cape Wine Masters honour top SA viticulturist
Topics: Bennie Howard, Cape Wine Academy, Cape Wine Master, CWM, Duimpie Bayly, Eben Archer, Institute of Cape Wine Masters, Mike Buthelezi, Nietvoorbij, Nkululeku Mkhwanazi, South African wine, Tawanda Marume, Tony Mossop, University of Montpellier, University of Stellenbosch, wine
The Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM) has given its Wine Personality of the Year award to world-renowned viticulturist Eben Archer.
ICWM chair Andy Roediger says prof Archer has contributed widely to the education of many viticulturists, winemakers and winefarmers in South Africa to produce better grapes and make better wine. Prof Archer has been praised for his work as a researcher, academic, mentor and consultant.
He has a PhD from the University of Montpellier, France, did pioneering research for many years at Nietvoorbij near Stellenbosch and taught at the University of Stellenbosch. Though retired, he still consults for more than 20 wine farms.
At the AGM of the Institute of Cape Wine Masters three bursaries were awarded to Cape Wine Master students: Mike Buthelezi (Gauteng), Nkululeku Mkhwanazi (KZN) and Tawanda Marume (Western Cape). There are 29 students following the Cape Wine Master programme at present.
The Cape Wine Academy and the ICWM announced that no Cape Wine Master graduates qualified this year. This is only the fourth year that no diplomas were awarded. The other years without graduates were 1999, 2002 and 2003.
Next year sees the 30th anniversary of Cape Wine Masters since the first three candidates, Duimpie Bayly, Bennie Howard and the late Tony Mossop, were invested in 1984. A total of 82 Cape Wine Masters have since qualified.
