Institute of Cape Wine Masters Marks Milestone With First Blind Graduate Among Four New Achievers

History was made in South African wine this year as the Institute of Cape Wine Masters celebrated its first-ever blind graduate among four new Cape Wine Masters (CWM). Three new Cape Wine Masters are from the Cape and one from Johannesburg. Since its inception in 1983, 120 Cape Wine Master candidates to date have achieved this elite self-study qualification, making this year’s achievements all the more remarkable.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Pinotage and the first bottled Pinotage under the Lanzerac label, a prestigious awards luncheon hosted by the Pinotage Association and the Lanzerac Hotel and Spa together with the Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM) was held on Friday, 22 August, with graduate Jacques Lombard, the blind graduate in attendance. He was joined by fellow Cape Wine Master graduates – Bradley Wood, a Johannesburg-based specialist urologist in private practice; Riaan van der Spuy, cellar master at Swartland Winery and Janine van Zyl, a sommelier and international account manager at global wine and spirits social media agency, FirstPour.

Bradley Wood, a Johannesburg-based specialist urologist in private practice

The top graduates were awarded trophies in four categories; sparkling wine, viticulture, research paper excellence and brandy. Bradley Wood scored a hattrick by receiving three trophies namely for Sparkling Wine presented by Villiera Wines; for Viticulture presented by Jordan Winery and for Research Paper Excellence presented by Kleine Zalze Wines. Janine Van Zyl received the trophy for Brandy presented by Van Ryn Brandy.

Janine van Zyl, a sommelier and international account manager at global wine and spirits social media agency, FirstPour.

After losing his sight in 1996, at the age of 26, Lombard’s introduction to the wine industry came through a tasting group for visually impaired wine enthusiasts, founded by Hermann Kirschbaum, then winemaker at Buitenverwachting. Twenty years later in 2016, he founded Winebrands Pty and pursued formal studies with distinction at the Cape Wine Academy. Lombard’s dissertation examined the formation, health effects, and mitigation of biogenic amines in wine, dispelling common myths about sulphites and highlighting the amine compounds as a key cause of wine-related discomfort.

Jacques Lombard, the blind graduate in attendance. He was joined by fellow Cape Wine Master graduates.

Van der Spuy’s dissertation reviewed high-altitude viticulture internationally and in South Africa, assessing its benefits, challenges, and potential as a collective marketing strategy to enhance the country’s wine industry. Van Zyl’s dissertation investigated how South African wineries can harness digital marketing, social media, and influencer collaborations to strengthen brand presence, engage consumers, and drive sales.

Riaan van der Spuy, cellar master at Swartland Winery.

Wood’s dissertation explored whether South Africa’s Cape South Coast offers the country’s most favourable terroir for producing quality Syrah, concluding that the region delivers distinctive, world-class expressions shaped by its cool maritime climate and unique soils.

The full dissertations are available on the website of the Institute of Cape Wine Masters (www.icwm.co.za).

During the past year nine new candidates have entered the CWM programme and there are now 29 CWM students enrolled for the five-year self-study programme, the highest figure ever.

Beyers Truter, Chairperson of the Pinotage Association, led a special tasting of the Grand Pinotage wines, assisted by Abrie Beeslaar. These six Pinotages feature the past decades’ most prestigious producers. The tasting was concluded with the Lanzerac Commemorative Pinotage 2021, a tribute to the world’s first bottled Pinotage – a 1959 Lanzerac Pinotage – in a similar bottle and original label.

The names of the respective winners of the Wine Personality of the Year award and the Dave Hughes Trophy were announced at the annual ICWM black-tie dinner held at Beyerskloof in Stellenbosch on Saturday, 23 August 2025.

Ken Forrester, affectionately known as “Mr Chenin”, was named the 2025 Wine Personality of the Year in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the South African wine industry and his unwavering dedication to championing Chenin Blanc. As chairman and founding member of the Chenin Blanc Association since its inception in 2000, Forrester has been instrumental in transforming perceptions of the cultivar from a workhorse grape to one of South Africa’s most celebrated varietals. His vision has driven pioneering research, preservation of old vineyards, and a shift in focus from volume production to quality, while his infectious energy and global advocacy have elevated the reputation of South African Chenin Blanc on the world stage.

Dr Winifred (Winnie) Bowman has been designated the sixth winner of the Dave Hughes Trophy (instituted in 2020 in honour of the late co-founder and honorary CWM of the Cape Wine Academy), for her dedication to the wine industry as an international and local judge, wine writer, and for her involvement as a mentor in the ICWM educational sphere. Dr Bowman’s original CWM dissertation, attained in 2008, was on an accreditation programme for a South African wine education institute. She has a particular passion for South African brandy.

The Institute of Cape Wine Masters’ Vision 2030 is steaming ahead with the three candidates that joined the development programme in 2024: Narissa Pieters – junior winemaker at Rustenburg Wine Estate; Kelsey Shungking – assistant winemaker at Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines and Lerato Molekeki – Gauteng territory manager for Beck Family Estates. International funding and industry partnerships are strategically used to ensure a sustainable feed of qualifying candidates for the programme and helping not only to assist in the building of a diverse, local wine community, but also an international one. The first two candidates, Lethabo Komana and Xolani Mancotywa, are now settled and comfortable with the intensity of the self-study material and the discipline required to pass the examinations.

Says Vice-Chairman of the ICWM, Jacques Steyn, “We are proud and privileged to be working with the Gerard Basset Foundation – the world’s leading charitable foundation dedicated to using the wine, spirits and hospitality industries as a vehicle for change – to help the Institute to build momentum in our Vision 2030 quest”.

The formation of the Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM) dates back to the start of the Cape Wine Academy. It was launched on 1 May 1979 as part of the Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery (SFW) wine plan. In 2003, the Cape Wine and Spirit Education Trust granted the CWA the right to award the Cape Wine Master (CWM) qualification and confer the Cape Wine Master’s title, in collaboration with the Institute of Cape Wine Masters.

The first three CWMs to graduate in 1983 were Bennie Howard, the late Duimpie Bayly and the late Tony Mossop, who were also the founding members of the ICWM in 1983.

With the addition of the latest four CWMs, the number to attain this elite self-study qualification in the 46-year history of the CWA has now reached 120, including the three honorary members. Of the total current active membership of the Institute, Western Cape members comprise 78%, Gauteng 19%, KwaZulu-Natal 2%, and Free State 1%, with 15 CWM’s living overseas. The profile of the total membership (since inception, including deceased and resigned members) is 51% male and 49% female.

The exco members that were elected at the AGM of the Institute of Cape Wine Masters in May this year are – Mark Philp as Chairperson, Jacques Steyn as Vice-Chairperson, Lizette Tolken as Educom representative, René Groenewald as marketing co-ordinator and Tom Blok as Treasurer.