Le Fût Wines is an emerging brand in Paarl which recently held a graduation ceremony for students from Drakenstein who come from diverse backgrounds.
The one group completed a Skills Programme from September 2020 to March 2021, the other, Learnerships, is a year in duration. Both focus on agriculture.
The ultimate goal is for graduates to become entrepreneurs, obtain bursaries to other institutions or eventually return to Le Fût Wines as an employee, which ties in with its philosophy to be a pioneer of skills transfer in the community.
The programmes are facilitated by Overberg Training and Development Initiative (OTDI) and AgriSETA. The occupation-based learning programmes focus on actual skills required on the job.
Skills programmes are presented as stand-alone modules or packaged in such a way that they may ultimately lead, over time, to a full qualification.
Learnerships are vocational education and training programmes. It combines theory and practice, resulting in a qualification registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for which these students received a National Certificate in Plant Production NQF.
Le Fût farm was taken over in 2018. It is entirely black-owned and will especially advocate women as a leading light in agriculture.
The 17-ha farm will eventually be home to a vineyard and winery. The vineyard is to be replanted during 2022 so grapes will eventually be harvested and the farm will make its own wine.
It will also host an academy for budding chefs and students in hospitality and be a hub for fresh produce, essential oils.
The farm will have a restaurant, bar, event space, lecture halls and conference rooms.
Construction of the academy and restaurant will hopefully start by July, ready for launch by the end of the year.
Currently, Le Fût’s wine range consists of three cultivars, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, sourced and bottled in the Breedekloof region. It is owned by two families from Paarl.
