Yonela Zondwayo had a College of Cape Town diploma in motor mechanics but struggled to find work. While looking for options, a Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) Facebook post triggered his curiosity and, with a little encouragement from his cousin, Busiswa Dinwa, herself a PYDA graduate, he decided to give it a try and registered for the wine practitioner programme in 2016. It was his first introduction to wine.
Busiswa, who now works at Boschendal, is still an important mentor and source of inspiration for Zondwayo. He also credits PYDA facilitator Nomonde Kubheka for supporting him throughout WSET levels 1 and 2, which he successfully completed in 2017 while working in the tasting room at Delheim. There he proved his mettle by making the most sales. “It was a high moment in my life, which motivated me to keep improving.”
When Yonela showed interest in becoming a sommelier, it was his heroes Joseph Tongai Dhafana and Tinashe Nyamudoka who mentored him as he worked to break through from the tasting room to the restaurant. It was hard work and long hours. When his shifts ended at five in the evening, he had to take a taxi from Stellenbosch to join Tinashe at the Test Kitchen in Woodstock or Joseph at La Colombe in Constantia. In between, he studied to become a wine ambassador through the Sommeliers Academy under Jean Vincent Ridon.
His hard work and dedication opened a door to become a certified South African Sommeliers Association (SASA) sommelier.
Qualifying as a certified sommelier has been the highlight of his career and culminated in his appointment in 2018 as a sommelier with Azamara Cruises.
In 2024, at the age of 29, Yonela made WineLand Media's 30 Under 30 list – a list of 30 young professionals recognised for their contributions to the South African wine industry.