A Dime To Study Wine

The South African wine industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions, but it continues to recover. According to Wines of South Africa, the industry employs more than 269 000 people and exported 368.5 million litres of wine in 2022, making it the eighth-largest producer of wine in the world.

It’s an industry with room for growth and for students eager to learn the ins and outs of wine production, marketing and serving. These are some of the initiatives supporting students in funding their studies.

South African Sommeliers Association

The South African Sommeliers Association (SASA) offers a beacon of hope and growth for individuals passionate about the sommelier industry through its various bursary programmes, says SASA general manager Erica Taylor. “These bursaries unfold throughout the year, sponsored by an array of generous producers and companies eager to empower and uplift the sommelier community. These unique opportunities provide a platform for aspirants to dive deep into the world of wine, enhancing their knowledge and expertise.”

Taylor says SASA’s bursary programmes cater to a broad spectrum of individuals, from beginners to those seeking advanced certification, and include the Introductory Sommelier Course, SASA Junior Sommelier, ASI Certification Level 2 and the prestigious ASI Diploma. “Each programme is tailored to instil a profound understanding of wine, from its rich history to the complexities of taste, serving and storage, ensuring participants gain a holistic and comprehensive education.”

Interested parties should sign up and become members of SASA, which, in turn, allows access to the association’s mailing list. Through this platform, members are kept abreast of all bursary opportunities as they arise along with other valuable information related to the sommelier industry.

“By fostering education and professional development, SASA’s bursary programmes not only enhance individual careers, but also contribute significantly to the enrichment and advancement of the sommelier profession as a whole,” says Taylor. “This initiative represents SASA’s commitment to excellence, inclusivity and the sustainable growth of the wine industry in South Africa and beyond.

Check out sommeliers.org.za for more information and contact details.

International Wine Education Centre

The International Wine Education Centre (IWEC) was Africa’s first approved programme provider for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), one of the world’s leading drinks education organisations.

Cathy Marston, who leads the WSET course in South Africa, says that IWEC has received money from the Gérard Basset Foundation to fund 12 Level 3 bursaries, with WSET itself hopefully chipping into cover a further three. “That’s for a course that will start in August. The foundation has also given us R200 000 to fund two people on our Level 4 course – the flagship course, one level down from Master of Wine.”

Marston says a lot of bursary funding also comes from the International Wine Challenge (IWC) – the world’s largest wine competition, held annually in London. “The additional wine sent to the competition is auctioned to create a slush fund for education. People can apply for Level 2, 3 and 4 bursaries through WSET, and the IWC is incredibly generous in assisting with that.”

Marston also recommends checking out Women of the Vine & Spirits, an American organisation dedicated to supporting women in the drinks industry. “It provides bursaries for all levels of WSET courses and particularly tries to support women of colour.”

Go to thewinecentre.co.za for more information and contact details.