The South African wine industry body, Vinpro, has inaugurated two new honorary members, Wilhelm Lategan of Bergsig Estate and Dave Hooper of Edward Snell & Co. for their contribution to the South African wine and brandy industry.
In 2015, Dave proposed a strategic growth plan for the brandy industry which had a significant impact on brandy and its sales, as well as its image. Part of this was his proposal for an inclusive and competent industry body, simple consumer-friendly definitions for category segments, effective image building and a proper evaluation of export opportunities that prioritised brandy in South Africa, rather than specific brands.
This led to the formation of the Cape Brandy Distillers Guild, Cape Brandy – the first steps of a 50-year journey to where South African brandy today fills world stages as the best in the world. “With his strategic input, advocacy and leadership in the brandy industry, Dave also built up and enriched the wine industry,” says Anton Smuts, Vinpro chairman. “He truly put the cool back into brandy and made it hip and modern.”
Wilhelm Lategan, alias Prop, is at heart a wine and vine farmer and brandy lover. He is one of the first producers in the Goudini and Worcester area – which was known for its large cooperative wineries that took and processed grapes from producers and sold it on their behalf – who sold bottled wine under his own label in 1978 after Bergsig was registered as an Estate. His visionary leadership persuaded many others to do the same.
Prop is an innovator, and science and technology lies close to his heart. He is also a leader in the field of viticulture, especially in fertilisation and training systems and, together with the late Pietman Hugo, helped build the Worcester wine region to one that produces world-class wines and brandies.
“There are very few people in the industry with such a broad knowledge of the industry as Oom Prop,” says Anton. “He served, marketed, and loved this industry. As an enthusiastic ambassador, trailblazer, and mentor, he made this industry better in the truest sense of the word.”
Since 2017, every year in November, Vinpro has honoured individuals who have made a significant contribution to the organisation and the South African wine industry. “Through awarding the Vinpro honorary membership to Wilhelm and Dave, we thank them for their contributions to the prosperity and sustainability of the South African wine and brandy industry,” says Anton.
Previous pioneers who were inaugurated as honorary members by Vinpro include Danie de Wet of De Wetshof, Pieter Hugo of Hugoskraal, Johann Krige of Kanonkop and Bowen Botha of Robertson Wines in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Wanda Augustyn
Vinpro Communications Manager
Tel: 021 276 0458
E-mail: wanda@wineland.co.za
