NEWS


The Cape Wine Academy has been welcoming students to learn about wine for more than 43 years, and now South Africa’s most recognised wine school celebrates a new era of education and training at its new centre of learning, networking and experiencing wine in the heart of Stellenbosch.

The ten-year tradition of fine wine at the centre of the seaside resort’s culture fest will have a challenging focus at this year’s Hermanus FynArts: audience participation as part of the exploration of some of the country’s best wines. Add a few high profile vinous personalities as presenters and there will be a run on the limited number of seats.

We celebrate the graduation of fifteen students who successfully completed the challenging third level Diploma Wine Course. This is the biggest group of graduates in recent years with an impressive mix of wine industry professionals and serious wine enthusiasts amongst the candidates.

On the eve of Cap Classique day in this celebratory 50th Anniversary year, the Cap Classique Producers Association is delighted to share the birth of the Cap Classique Academy in collaboration with the Cape Wine Academy.

We have been given these AMAZING opportunities as guests on WinslynTV, the Institute of Cape Wine Masters, Talk Radio 702 and Cape Talk as well a shared feature by The Good Things Guy to spread the news of our industry support initiative for the beleaguered hospitality, tourism and wine industries. We are so grateful for the continued interest to learn about wine with this first level course. Our offer of access to our online South African Wine Course at no cost to anyone working in any wine-related service industry continues as long as we are left in limbo by level 4 restrictions.

The Wonder of Wine
Despite the curse of COVID-19 lingering in our midst as we approach the festive season, the Cape Wine Academy is excited to welcome a new year with great plans and prospects in pursuit of bringing you closer to the wonder of wine.

Wine will always find a way to connect us
There is some truth that the best of opportunities present themselves in the worst of times. It is my great privilege to join the Cape Wine Academy albeit in these very distressing days for our wine industry.

Meet Our New Principal, Cape Wine Master Heidi Duminy
Heidi is a long-serving lecturer and supporter of the CWA and we are delighted to welcome her as Principal.
“In these times of profound change, the challenge is only surpassed by the privilege of the opportunity to advance a new age of learning about wine without losing the essence of the Cape Wine Academy established over 40 years by heroes of our industry.”

Cheers Harry!
We would like to thank Harry for his contribution to the Cape Wine Academy during his tenure as Principal. Harry was appointed as Head in September 2018, shortly after graduating as the 101st Cape Wine Master in South Africa.

My wine story
When South African Wine Course graduate, Yanira Cruz decided to leave Colombia and relocate to South Africa to study English, she never thought that a whole new world of wine would open up to her.In particular, Yanira has fallen head over heels for Pinotage:

My wine story
When Jacques Lombard lost his eyesight to diabetes in 1996, he didn’t lose hope but decided to rise above his circumstances and pursue his ambitions anyway. Today he is a business owner, entrepreneur and investor and

The Impact of Coronavirus on wine
When I started writing this piece over a week ago about the main impacts of the Coronavirus (COVOID-19) on the wine industry I was trying to establish the severity and reach it would have.

In 2019 the Cape Wine Academy turned 40 having been established in May 1979. It’s safe to say that we have become an integral part of the South African wine landscape. Estimates have it that over 200,000 people have passed through our courses during this time with many wine industry experts having completed some form of education, training or experiential learning with us.