met at Nederburg for the tasting.

In the first round four red and four white cultivars were tasted blind, identified and their qualities described. The top seven qualifiers from the first round then went through to a final tasting round. Again, four white- and four red wines were presented, however, one of the white as well as one of the red wines was faulty and had to be identified as such.

The balance of the wines needed specific identity with a further description.

And then there was the long wait, which for some meant falling asleep on the lush lawns, while the judges sifted through the results.

The standard was extremely high, Vintners' chairman Jeff Grier said.

The winner, Michael Mbova of Simonsvlei, is now the proud owner of a beautiful glass trophy, a cash prize of R500 as well as a voucher from the Cape Wine Academy to enrol in the Introductory Wine Course. 

His achievement was remarkable as he had only been working in a wine cellar for the past 18 months.

The runners-up were Thandinkosi Nkala of Backsberg estate and Jonathan Appollis of KWV.

With the presentation ceremony completed, there was time for a last celebratory glass - of champagne for some, but for most of the cellar assistants, a glass of grape juice.

"DIT wil voorkom of die vlakke van die voorgestelde minimumloon vir plaaswerkers in lyn is met die norme wat die Regering tans gebruik vir mense om minimum lewenspeile te handhaaf."

So het Pieter Erasmus, voorsitter van Agri SA se Arbeidskomitee gereageer op die Minister van Arbeid se aankondiging in die Parlement dat 'n minimumloon vir plaaswerkers voorgestel word. In die Wes-Kaap is dit R750 en in ander areas wissel dit van R400 tot R600.

Erasmus het daarop gewys dat arbeid by verre die grootste koste-item in die landbou is.

Daar is ook positiewe voorstelle in die verslag soos reëlings vir Sondagwerk, nagwerk en aanpasbaarheid van weeklikse werksure op 'n jaarbasis.

"Boere moet hul arbeid baie goed bestuur om seker te maak dat arbeidskoste binne bekostigbare perke bly. Vasstellings van hierdie aard kan daartoe lei dat boere hulle arbeidsmag verder moet rasionaliseer en kan die gevolg hê dat nog werksgeleenthede verlore gaan, veral vir onopgeleide nuwelinge," het Erasmus gesê.

Wat betref minimum standaarde vir behuising het Erasmus gesê dat die voorstelle ongelukkig kom in 'n tyd wat die onbedoelde gevolge van die Wet op Uitbreiding van Sekerheid van Verblyfreg baie boere laat besluit het om nie werkershuise op te gradeer nie, en boere daardeur gedwing word om werkers nie op die plaas te huisves nie.

DIE Hoofdirektoraat Landbou, Wes-Kaap, bied op Donderdag 4 Oktober van 09:00 'n kursus in melkkuddeteling aan in die herehuis op Elsenburg. Hierdie kursus is onontbeerlik vir progressiewe boere vir wie genetiese vordering belangrik is. 

"Genetiese vordering is definitief een van die mees effektiewe maniere waarop melkboere hulself teen die kosteknyptang kan beskerm," meen Carel Muller, melkkuddenavorser van die Hoofdirektoraat Landbou.

Die program sluit in belangrike onderwerpe soos reproduksiebestuur, beraming van teelwaardes, die seleksie van bulle,  sowel as die saamstel van kuddeprofiele en genetiese vordering. 

Die kostes beloop R120 per persoon by Carel Muller 808-5228.

A SHORT course designed to equip farmers and other interested parties with the knowledge and understanding of organic farming, will be held at Elsenburg Agricultural College from 25 to 27 October.

Initiated by the Spier Institute who have pioneered commercially viable organic farming in partnership with five emerging farmers, the two-day short course is the first step towards structured, formalised training in organic farming.

With the increasing degeneration of agricultural land, the escalating cost of conventional farming methods, the demand for organic produce, and the need for sustainable farming methods, there is a growing interest in organic farming by both conventional as well as emerging farmers.

Elsenburg College will be playing a critical role partnering the Spier Institute in designing and co-ordinating formal courses in organic farming.

The first short course in October will cover topics such as organic certification, market trends, pest, weed and disease management, conversion costs, viability studies and organic case studies in the vegetable, deciduous, citrus, and table grape sectors.

It will be followed by an open day at Go Organic at Spier on Saturday 27 October where farmers will be given the opportunity to experience organic farming first hand.

It is hoped that a network of committed and diverse supporters of education and learning in the organic field will be developed, with the ultimate aim of documenting the accumulated knowledge and providing ongoing quality training and knowledge resources.

The cost of the short course is R800. For further information call Lesley at Spier 881-3661 or email lesley@spierholdings.co.za.