RACE WALKING
All smiles in the Two Oceans Half
Denzel in his element with a good wine
“ This year we are taking 20 grade-10 learners from different farms into a programme that will finish when they complete grade 12 , and we will journey with them over the next three years to ensure they finish school , because the biggest problem in the wine industry is kids dropping out around grade 10 ,” says Denzel . “ Part of this is breakaway camps in the holidays , with tutoring in the mornings in school subjects they struggle with , life skills in the afternoon , and then outreach in evenings , because we are also focused on giving back to local communities with an element of paying it forward .”
Bottled History
The SOS range consists of three wines , and there ’ s a story behind each one . “ I wanted to tell my life story through these wines , and reach a point to make a profit to sustain farm kids ,” says Denzel . “ Firstly , I chose the chenin grape because it is so flexible – you can make anything with it , and to me that is like a child , who could become anything in life . That ’ s why I called it the Break the Mould Chenin Blanc .”
“ Next is the Pinotage , which I have called The Undiscovered Jewel . The only time Pinotage truly receives the acclaim it deserves is in blind tastings , but otherwise the cultivar is often talked down . Similarly , I think I was an unpolished jewel … I needed to be discovered and polished . The third bottling is a Methode Cap Classique sparkling made from mainly Chardonnay , which I have named The Infinite Sparkle , because we
love to celebrate with bubbles and sparkles – and I have had a lot to celebrate in my life . We ’ ll also be adding a premium wine to the range later , a Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot blend that I am going to call Reimagine .”
The first vintages of these wines were sourced from and made at Koelenhof Cellars last year , but Denzel says the next two vintages will , appropriately , be made at Simonsig . “ We ’ ll be bottling in March , so the wines should be ready by the end of March , and we ’ ve already taken orders , with the current price of R350 for a three-bottle pack . We looked at the budget needed to look after 20 kids this year and worked out that we needed to sell 1500 bottles of each of the three wines to raise enough money . Next year , we will need more , so we will be producing 2500 bottles of each , and by 2023 we ’ ll need 5000 of each , in order to pay for the international trip to either Portugal or Australia for the 20 kids , should they still be in school and working towards finishing grade 12 . That ’ s the deal we have made with them , to incentivise and motivate them .”
Onward Motion
In spite of all he has achieved thus far , Denzel says he prefers working to pay it forward . “ I seldom focus on my own story as a farm child achieving some success in the South African wine industry , because I feel it ’ s more relevant to focus on the many other talents that are untapped in farming youth and workers . My story is not unique ... there are hundreds of stories such as mine … but not every farm child enjoys the opportunities I have , and few get to tell their story as I can .”
Another wine show
Sharing the wine knowledge
Denzel and his family
“ The work to transform the wine industry and its practices must continue , but the more pressing issue is to address how to assist the farm working community in their struggle to create a livelihood . That is why I started the Son of the Soil Leadership Foundation and the wine range , and I hope more people will support the work we do with farm youth , support us by buying the wines , and spend their CSI funds with us , especially if they are doing business in the wine industry . For our industry to continue doing this life-changing work , ensuring that people remain employed and create a sense of hope for farm children and their families , we need the support of all during this time .”
If you would like to support the SOS Leadership Foundation by ordering a threebottle pack of the SOS range of wines , go to www . sosfoundation . org . za or e-mail denzel @ sosfoundation . org . za
Images : Action Photo SA and courtesy Denzel Swarts
54 ISSUE 138 FEBRUARY 2021 / www . modernathlete . co . za