Four SA wine industry luminaries were honoured at the annual Wine Harvest Commemorative Event, at Groot Constantia, on Thursday February 2.
The event celebrates the birth of the country’s wine industry 364 years ago and includes the blessing of the new harvest. Groot Constantia Wine Estate has sponsored the event since 2012. This year’s event also drew support from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture; Vinpro, a non-profit company that represents SA wine producers; and other organisations.
Ken Forrester, the founding member of the Chenin Blanc Association of South Africa, received an award for “visionary leadership” for his contribution to the development and international fame of the chenin blanc cultivar.
According to a statement from the organisers, the net value of chenin blanc produced has increased from R290.6 billion in 1998, when the association was established, to R888.7 billion in 2020 and contributions to the upliftment of wine worker communities amount to R2.1 million as part of the Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge Awards.
Rydal Jeftha, CEO and managing director of the Koopmanskloof Vineyards for the past 16 years, received the award in the “growing inclusivity” category.
The organisers hailed Mr Jeftha as “a mentor and inspirational leader to multitudes of young people, creating a sense of hope and future focus for those who may face barriers to enter the industry”.
Under his leadership at black-owned Thandi Wines, sales had grown from 500 cases to 42 000 cases in two years.
Wendy Jonker, administering officer of the Liquor Products Act, was honoured in the “wine advancement category”. The organisers said she represented the government in bilateral and multilateral talks as a technical wine expert in the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the World Wine Trade Group.
“She is a registered professional natural scientist and an author and reviewer of scientific publications as vice-president of the OIV scientific committee,” the statement said.
Dr Erna Blancquaert, a lecturer and researcher in viticulture, received the award in the “viti- and viniculture category”.
“Dr Blancquaert was the first black South African to receive a PhD in Viticulture in 2015. Her tireless devotion to excellence and empowerment has established her as a major force in her field,” the statement said.
