Ten years
ago, David & Sue Sonnenberg set up the Thokozani Trust for the
Diemersfontein staff. This incredibly successful BEE initiative started with 35
shareholders, who had to buy their shares in the Trust. We were at the event
held to hand over the initial share certificates and it was a very emotional
occasion. Initially they had 30% share and now, with support, they have 80%
ownership with 20% held by Diemersfontein. They run the 4 Star cottages, the
Conference Centre and the wine brand. The Directors are nominated by the team.
There are
some star stories of staff progressing. Cheslin Price was a general farm worker
and, with rubies in his teeth, looked like a gangster. He had a makeover and he
is now Liaison manager of Hospitality. Tholene Liebenberg a single mum and
vineyard worker who wanted more for her family. Auban Williams, a tasting room
assistant, is now its manager and travels in Africa to market the wines. Jason,
who had no winemaking background, has done courses at Elsenburg and is now
assistant winemaker. Tarryn was the receptionist and is now Hospitality manager
Ovation
wine is a new initiative with Woolworths who wanted a genuine BEE label on
their shelves. They asked several applicants to submit their wines for approval
and Thokozani won. The wines have been made and blended to their strict
specifications and will be on their shelves this month. It has been a long and
arduous journey, but it has been achieved
We met on the verandah of the Manor house for a glass of rosé and a canapé
and then moved to the Conference Centre for speeches
and to taste the wine
Grant Johnson was our MC for the event
Denise Stubbs told us about the journey ...
... and introduced us to her colleagues, she laughed,
she cried and she showed her love for them all
The red wines will sell for R69. There is a 2014 Pinotage.
It is not a coffee chocolate Pinotage, but is full of plums and black fruits, with
long flavours and a soft finish. Very good with food
The Ovation Merlot needed to be good quality. Its had
red berry fruit, spicy oak and soft tannins and is easy drinking. No
greenness or mint visible
Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities Alan
Winde, Ministry of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, (Provincial
Cabinet, Western Cape Government). Lynne asked Minister Winde politely why the
Department was not giving the wine industry more financial support to help
market our wines overseas, especially as they are the third largest revenue
earners for the Provincial government. He said "they were getting support, he is
taking 17 wines to China soon". Oh, if only we had the support the EU and
other national governments give to their wine industries. We so need to earn
more foreign currency
Sally Liebetreu is the graphic designer who designed
the new Ovation label
Ivan Oertle of Woolworths talking of the journey to
produce the Ovation wines
Head of Department of Agriculture: Joyene Isaacs, who
has supported the Thokozani Trust with money to make this happen. She gave the
industry a tip: if you need money from the Department, ask her in August when
she is drawing up the annual budget. And she said: "Let's make Agriculture
sexy"
David and Sue Sonnenberg
David Sonnenberg spoke about the history of the farm which
was bought by his grandfather in 1942 and told how they progressed from using the
dop system (where workers received a weekly ration of wine as part of their
earnings), which he wanted to address and lose, to building a school in 1979, and to
starting Thokozani. They are a work in progress, with many challenges still to
face. Profitability is very necessary, so are quality products. He gave a
salute and thanks to the winemaking and creative teams and to Woolies for these
efforts. Transformation is a vexing thing; there is a value in reflection of
the project, it must not be idolised, you can get most things right by
thoughtfulness. It is frustratingly slow, but do it properly and retain the
genuineness
Winemaker Francois Roode (since 2003) told us lunch
would show how the wines matched with food. He also told us that his assistant
Jason had come first in his class on the four day VinPro Cellar Educational
course and scored 94%. He told us Jason is also a good singer
The Sauvignon Blanc on ice. It has tropical flavours
with some green pepper notes and is extremely quaffable
Lunch was prepared by chef Andy Eichelaar of the
Season Restaurant on Diemersfontein. The starter of Salmon wrapped asparagus to
go with the Sauvignon Blanc
Mediterranean grilled aubergine, topped with melted
mozzarella cheese and basil, was the delicious vegetarian starter
The singer is Chantal Lewis from the Diemersfontein
tasting room. She is incredibly talented and we all wondered when her first CD will
be issued. We believe she received several bookings on the day. She sings soft
jazzy numbers, old standards and some modern blockbusters like "I will
survive"
David Sonnenberg being serenaded
Happy day
Smoked Duck breast with butternut and spring onion to
go with the Merlot
The traditional vegetarian curry in roti cups was
paired with the Pinotage, which always goes well with spicy food
Patricia van Jaarsveld with Judy Brower of Wine.co.za
The team take a bow: Sue Sonnenberg, Denise Stubbs,
Francois Roode, Ivan Oertle, Rebecca Constable, David Sonnenberg, marketing manager Dian Joubert
Another main course: Slow braised lamb in red wine on
couscous
Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities
Alan Winde with the Ovation team
He accepts his gift of the three wines from Denise
Stubbs. We all received one
Rich dark chocolate mousse pots for dessert
It’s time to celebrate. That is what Thokozani means.
Let the party begin
Lets jive! David Sonnenberg dancing with Judy Brower
David Sonnenberg dancing with the team
Diemersfontein Manor house, late afternoon
A Tortoise on the farm. We moved it off the field
which was used for parking – a hazardous place for a small, slow creature
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2015
