About Us

Who we are

Winetech is an independent South African wine industry body that was originally conceptualised in 1996 and formally registered as a non-profit association in 1998. In 2018 the Wine Industry Network of Expertise and Technology NPC (trading as Winetech) was officially registered as a non-profit company.

What we do

Winetech receives and manages the research statutory levy from the South African wine industry. It has four core functions: Research and Development, Knowledge Transfer, Innovation, and Learning and Development.

Our vision

To help create a wine industry that recognises and uses science and technology as foundation stones for its success.

Our mission

To identify, prioritise, commission, complete and transfer research, development and innovation projects/initiatives that will directly contribute to strengthening the profitability and competitiveness of the industry in the local and international markets.

Our people

Winetech Board Members

Prof Marius Lambrechts

Group Intrinsic Manager, Distell
Chairperson and SALBA representative

Dr Ilse Trautman

Chief Director of Research and Technology Development Services, Western Cape Department of Agriculture

Dr Audrey Verhaeghe

Chairperson of the Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS) and of the SA Innovation Summit (SAIS)

Ivan Davids

National African Farmers Union (NAFU) representative

Rico Basson

Vinpro Managing Director

Anton Smuts

Vinpro Board Chairperson

Gerard Martin

Winetech Executive Manager

Winetech Board Observer

Mathilda van der Walt

Economist, National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)

Winetech Personnel

GERARD MARTIN

Winetech Executive Manager

ANEL ANDRAG

Manager

KACHNÉ ROSS

Learning & Development Manager

DR ADRIAAN OELOFSE

Research & Development Manager

BRIGITTE CYSTER

Office Administrator

KARIEN O’KENNEDY

Knowledge Transfer (OENOLOGY)

LUCINDA HEYNS

Knowledge Transfer (VITICULTURE)

Our strategic intent

Winetech’s strategic intent is to deliver Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) outcomes that are highly valued and sought after by the industry in general and the pace setters in particular.

Our core objectives

According to its constitution, the objectives are sixfold, namely:

To commission relevant research, innovation and technology transfer across the total wine industry value chain;
To support and guide the wine industry with expertise and environmentally sustainable technologies to produce cost effective and quality driven wines, brandy and grape-spirit products;
To provide access for relevant training and education for individuals in the RDI sector of the industry – at all levels in terms of skills, knowledge and insight development; and to facilitate the development of new entrants;
To facilitate the implementation of relevant innovative research outputs and technological developments for commercial value;
To establish a culture of innovation and discovery within the industry;
To create global collaborative networks of scientific and technological expertise to provide world-class leadership to the wine industry.

Annual Reports

VIEW Reports