Cape Winemakers Guild welcomes new member, three new Protégés
The Cape Winemakers Guild is thrilled to welcome highly-awarded producer, Lukas van Loggerenberg on board as a new member.
Three aspiring young winemakers will also be kicking off the first of their three-year Protégé Programme this year.
Mr Van Loggerenberg, owner and winemaker at Stellenbosch-based independent producer, Van Loggerenberg Wines, will enter the Guild as a new member in 2025.
Aiming to nurture excellence in the art and science of winemaking, the Cape Winemakers Guild brings together the most inspiring, talented and acclaimed winemakers from appellations across the length and breadth of the Cape Winelands by invitation only.
Since making an assured and assertive debut as an independent producer on the South African wine scene in 2016, Mr Van Loggerenberg has emerged as both a leader and an inspiring team player among his peers.
Harnessing his curiosity, finely tuned palate and thirst for knowledge, he has built an enviable, sought-after and highly awarded emerging South African wine brand.
“I feel humbled and privileged to be invited to join the Cape Winemakers Guild,” says Mr Van Loggerenberg.
“I have always admired the members, core values and integrity thereof. I look forward to playing my part in the work that the Guild is doing to enrich the wine industry of South Africa.”
“Lukas is not only a great leader, but more importantly a great team player. He has an admirable work ethic and is a tenacious and extremely hard grafter. He would certainly play a valuable and important role in the Guild,” says Samantha O’Keefe, Cape Winemakers Guild Chair.
“With a palate that his winemaking friends and peers envy, Lukas would also undoubtedly make invaluable contributions to all Guild tasting activities.”
New protégés
Selected from dozens of recent graduates who applied for the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme, Reece Julies from Paarl, Alice Tsolo from Thaba-Nchu and Engela Uithaler from Ladismith are entering their first year as Protégés this year.
Each will spend three years under the tutelage of different Guild members.
The Protégé Programme is the Cape Winemakers Guild’s contribution to the transformation of South Africa’s wine industry and serves as an opportunity for members to transfer knowledge and skills to the next generation of dynamic young winemakers.
Since its inception in 2006, the Protégé Programme has established itself as the most successful skills development programme in the South African wine industry.
So far, 38 protégés have completed the three- year internship, 10 are currently participating in this ongoing programme, and 22 now either hold leading winemaking roles or have their own winemaking projects.
Hailing from Ladismith, Ms Uithaler studied winemaking at Elsenburg College. She is a passionate and curious winemaker, constantly seeking out new and unconventional ways of making wine.
“Ultimately, I would love to have my own small estate close to home, where I can produce wine in a sustainable and organic way while sharing my accomplishments with the community I grew up in,” she says.
Ms Tsolo, from Thaba-Nchu in the Free State, studied winemaking at Universidade de Trás-os- Montes e Alto Duro in Portugal.
She has a passion for nature and chose winemaking as this would allow her to engage with nature while generating a one-of-a-kind art piece through wine.
“I hope to become a well-known winemaker who provides outstanding advice to young people who want to pursue a career in winemaking,” she says.
Mr Julies grew up in Paarl and studied winemaking at Elsenburg College. Growing up, he used art and photography as a form of expression to communicate his love of nature.
“My vision is to be an innovative and dedicated winemaker with a reputation for quality, creativity and hard work,” he says.