Masayiti— a wine-maker of repute

Wining & Dining
BY SILENCE CHARUMBIRAIn 1972, a boy was born to the Masayiti family and was named Tariro. Like in many cases in African traditions the name had great significance to the events and occurrences. 

He was born as the seventh boy after another line up of six boys and that time his mother expected a girl to balance the gender setting. That explains the name; his mother was expectant that he would be born a girl. But nature was to have it otherwise. All the same they named him Tariro which ironically is usually a name given to girls.

Being a Christian family the Masayitis should have expected Tariro to follow the doctrines of the religion steadfastly. But he chose his own way and became a wine-maker.

“After my high school I went to the University of Zimbabwe where I studied for Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology,” says Masayiti. During semester breaks I worked at Mukuyu Winery in Marondera and it is during that time that I fell in love with the profession.”

He said after his studies, wine-making became a focal point for him as a career. “After finishing my studies I worked fulltime at Mukuyu winery for two years after which I got a scholarship to go and study wine-making at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

“The challenge that time was that all the classes were conducted in Afrikaans and I had to take extra classes to make sure that I learnt the language,” said Masayiti.

He had to work as a security guard to raise money for tuition fees for the Afrikaans classes. After completion of his degree programme, Masayiti became the first black man to qualify as a wine-maker in South Africa, an achievement that has brought him insurmountable self-esteem and a similar amount of opportunities.

“The job has given me esteem among my peers, particularly in South Africa where students are now considering it as a profession. “It has also afforded me a lot of opportunities as I get to associate with influential people from all walks of life.”

Masayiti is usually a judge at various wine competitions in South Africa that include the Veritas Wine Competition, the biggest wine contest in that country.

 

ZIMBABWE’S MASAYATI AN OENNOPHILE RECOGNISED INTERNATIONALLY

 

Internationally Masayiti is involved in wine judging for the International Wine and Spirits Competition. He is also responsible for selecting the wines that South African Airways serves on board for local, regional and international flights.

Besides wine judging and selection, Masayiti says he is heavily involved in career guidance programmes for students who might want to take up the profession.

“I am heavily involved in career guidance programmes for prospective winemakers. I feel it is important that students are exposed to the information and requirements before they take it up as a career.

“They should know that it is not about continuous drinking of wine but it comes with a lot of responsibility. It comes with a lot of hard work; farming of grapes; working with nature to produce the best of what you are targeting. On the other hand they also have to know it comes with a lot of pride.”Masayiti is now permanently based in South Africa’s Cape Province which houses over 500 wineries.

 

Masayiti dreams of owning a wine brand one day

 

Masayiti is employed by Nederburg, the largest wine brand in the country and region and was recently in Zimbabwe courtesy of African Distillers (Afdis) who are the distributor of the Nederburg brand in Zimbabwe.

Speaking at a wine-tasting function in Harare recently, Masayiti said he was in the country to make sure he gets in touch with their target market.“There are a lot of things that we learn as the winemakers form our market while in turn the market gets to understand about the various brands they drink.

“Drinking wine is associated with etiquette. There are certain wines for certain occasions and sometimes it depends on personal associations and preferences and that is why I am here for the wine-tasting event.”

Masayiti says he pays tribute to his mother Ronica and father Lazarus who he says have always urged him in his endeavours. “I am very grateful to my parents and family. I never imagined that I would achieve what I have achieved today. I dream about having my own wine brand one day. If it was not for them I would never have dreamt that big.”

Asked whether it was not a challenge for him as a Christian to be a wine-maker, Masayiti said he was instead grateful to the religion.“Being a Christian kept me out of trouble all the time. It afforded me time to concentrate on my studies and that is why I am here today.”