Cape Wine Master

The title of Cape Wine Master is one of the most sought after formal qualifications in the South African wine industry. The qualification was first instituted in 1983, and over the last 33 years 93 candidates (48 men and 45 women) have qualified to become Cape Wine Masters, and a further 3 were awarded the title of Honorary Cape Wine Masters. The Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM) is an active group of knowledgeable people who are formally qualified, objective, passionate and informed on local and international wine matters. The Institute runs tastings and other wine events. It provides membership services to members of the ICWM world-wide, along with information and access to specialist advice for the wine industry in general.

The ICWM pursues the goal of excellence in the wine industry and aims to promote:

The Institute of Cape Wine Masters is managed by a six-member Executive Committee. The 2016 – 2017 committee consists of the following members:

The first 3 Cape Wine Masters (FC "Duimpie" Bayly, Bennie Howard and the late Tony Mossop) wrote and passed their examinations in 1983, but were only awarded their diplomas on the 19th of July 1984! The ceremony took place at a cocktail function, held in the office of Godfrey de Bruyn, the Chairman of the Cape Wine and Spirit Education Trust, which was formed by the wine industry to coordinate the training and education of industry related people, and also to confer the CWM diplomas. Not more than 20 people were present at the office in Dorp Street in Stellenbosch, to witness the handing over of the diplomas to the 3 new graduates! The title of Honorary Cape Wine Master was awarded to Dave Hughes, Phyllis Hands and Colin Frith. They were given Honorary status due to the fact that they were the examiners during the first 12 years of the CWM programme and could never write the exams themselves, and for doing the ground breaking and outstanding work to start the CWM programme. Dave Hughes was head of Consumer Relations at SFW at the time and was overall responsible for the CWA and had a wealth of wine experience. Phyllis Hands was Principal of the Cape Wine Academy from its inception in 1979 and well known for her wine knowledge and training wine people. Colin Frith was appointed as wine buyer at SFW in 1982, and brought with him a huge amount of knowledge regarding international wines with his vast background of wine in the UK retail trade. In 2003 the Cape Wine and Spirit Education Trust granted the Cape Wine Academy the right to award the Cape Wine Master qualification and confer the Cape Wine Master’s title, in collaboration with the Institute of Cape Wine Masters. Founded in 1979, the Cape Wine Academy is recognised as the official wine education and training institution in South Africa.

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