Vermeulen, Junel
Public relations / promotions officer - Gauteng
Contact: Junel
Website: CapeWineMasters.
Junel lives in Gauteng and is a South African National Masters swimming champion.
Wine is my passion! The scope of the subject of wine is never ending, as so many other subjects lie within its boundaries, without geography and topography it is incomprehensible; without history it is colourless, without taste it is meaningless and without travel it remains unreal. It embraces botany, chemistry, agriculture, carpentry and economics it leads you up paths of knowledge and by-ways of experience you would never glimpse without it!!
Because of my curious nature, I had to know more about this wonderful subject ‘wine’, which already started as a young girl. I was one of the Cape Wine Academy’s first lecturers, when it was founded, in 1979. After my marriage in 1984, I exchanged the wine-world for motherhood.
In 1995 I returned to the Cape Wine Academy, I had to re-write all the exams, since my knowledge was now outdated! I completed my Diploma 2 year course in 1998 and commenced studying for Cape Wine Master in 2000.
This was a 5 year study plan. I graduated in 2004 as a Cape Wine Master and am one of only 65 Masters
in South Africa.
Her dissertation was titled Pinotage and its role in the Cape blend (2004).
I am still a senior lecturer for the Cape Wine Academy, I present regular tasting,
as well as food and wine evenings for Corporate bodies and co-ordinate and hosts wine tastings and
gourmet evenings at fine dining restaurants.
Judged for Veritas and Juliet Cullinan Wine Awards.
I am involved in the marketing of a few select wineries in South Africa as well as in the East and Asia for a private winery. I had the privilege to have been invited twice to taste En Primeur in Bordeaux and recently agreed to do marketing for a few Champagne houses in Gauteng.
Wine is inspiring and adds greatly to the joy of living! I can NEVER know all about wine!!
