CULINARY ESCAPADES • SINGITA
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n line with Singita’s ethos, community development is central to the Singita wine programme. François has created a special training programme for enthusiastic young wine lovers, developing the next generation of sommeliers for Africa. The training provides educational assistance, personal mentoring, formal wine training and access to Africa’s finest wine programme. Francois had this to share… Q: FRANCOIS, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SOMMELIER PROGRAM AT SINGITA. HOW LONG DOES IT RUN AND WHAT IS THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR YOUR SOMMELIERS? DO YOU SELECT CANDIDATES WHO ARE ALREADY TRAINED, OR YOU HAVE YOUR OWN TAKE ON GROOMING SOMMELIERS FOR SINGITA PROPERTIES? Both. The Singita Premier Wine program requires trained sommeliers with experience and a thorough knowledge and understanding of both international and local wines. International certifications such as the Wine and Spirits Trust level-3 or the Cape Wine Academy Diploma is a prerequisite for a Singita Sommelier position. Any additional or higher levels completed are of useful advantage. It is also essential that the Singita sommeliers are comfortable with distinguished and well-travelled guests and able to build relationships. Singita also recruits from within the company. The current Relief sommelier, Ngoni Mtizwa, is one example. He started at Singita Boulders Lodge as a bartender/barista and joined the Singita Premier Wine Department, completing a year as a Junior sommelier. He has since been promoted to Singita sommelier and quite recently, into a newly created role of Singita’s Group Relief sommelier. In 2020, we were fortunate to launch a Singita Wine Steward and Beverage Program for junior waiter staff within the company and we currently have 19 staff enrolled from various lodges and properties. One of the main objectives of this program is to create the training environment to identify and nurture potential staff from neighbouring communities, training them from a beginner level in all facets of the Singita wine program, especially the service component of wine and all other beverages (cocktails, spirits, coffee etc). The program has been received with much enthusiasm. The aim is for the Wine Steward program to run for a year, with extended time allowed for candidates who require more input and assistance. This commitment to empowering Singita staff is further enhanced by Singita’s participation in the Wine Forum, an annual event hosted by Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. Four Singita team members are selected from the properties and nominated to attend the Wine Forum, to mentor young wine industry staff for a career in the wine world. Both programs provide an important foundation to our staff and a steppingstone to ultimately progress to a becoming a full-time Singita sommelier. Singita takes this further by running two community culinary schools (in South Africa and Tanzania). The Singita Community Culinary Schools offer rigorous professional cookery courses that see young people drawn from local communities, graduating as commis chefs of the highest calibre. They emerge with sought-after skills and strong employment prospects, while kitchens at Singita lodges and those further afield benefit from a pool of expertly trained young chefs.
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