“My love and passion for wine were sparked by a gentleman named Ndaba Dube. His journey began from humble beginnings, and he worked his way up the ladder. He taught me to respect wine and shared the complexity behind enjoying and appreciating a bottle of wine.
My highlight for the week was visiting various wine estates and meeting winemakers. The in-depth knowledge I gained about gin from Hope Distillery in Salt River and brandy with Master Distiller Renaldo Fourie of the Sydney Back Potstilled Brandy at the Old Road Distillery was eye-opening. A special shout-out to Backsberg, Bellingham, and Boschendal for providing unforgettable moments. Bruce Jack's influence on the international wine community during tough times (Covid-19) does not go unnoticed.
I was inspired by my passion for food, people, and the diversity within this industry. There are many growth opportunities available. My long-term goal is to become a head sommelier in a well-known establishment and to open a hospitality academy to train, groom, and share skills with the upcoming generation.
My approach involves continual learning.
Reading
’The History of Bees’ by Maja Lunde
For those pursuing a career in the world of wine and the hospitality industry at large, I would like to quote Jacques Viljoen, Cellar Master and red wine maker from Boschendal, with whom we shared dinner. He said, "To succeed in the wine industry and in life in general, you must have PASSION for whatever you do." With all that being said, it was an honour to be part of the Inter-Hotel Challenge SA 2024 ‘Grain and Grape to Glass’ Tour. I will be forever grateful and will apply all the lessons learned to my everyday life.”
Luyanda Bushula is a candidate wine steward for the 2024 Inter Hotel Challenge