Initiated by South African based bespoke representation company Vula Afrika; Black Cellar Club (BLACC) launched in September of this year. Having listened to and participated in many passionate discussions about wine and the wine industry with their colleagues in the South African hospitality sector, directors at Vula Afrika, Ian Manley and Aubrey Ngcungama realised that there was a genuine need for an organization that could reach out to black Africans who were interested in furthering their wine knowledge. So together with those same colleagues they created BLACC.
BLACC’s executive board comprises of: Gregory Mutambe – Chairman (Head sommelier at the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa), Luvo Ntezo – Deputy Chairman (Head sommelier at One&Only Cape Town), Joseph T Dafana – Secretary General (Head sommelier at La Colombe Restaurant), Pearl Oliver – Deputy Secretary General (Head sommelier at the Taj Cape Town), Mercy Mwai – Treasurer General (Head sommelier at Nobu Cape Town), Aubrey Ngcungama – Ambassador (Director at Vula Afrika) and Ian Manley – PR & Media Executive (Director at Vula Afrika)
BLACC, is a voluntary association established and managed according to its Constitution and guided by its primary mandate and object. The object of BLACC is to advance a public benefit through social activities and cultural interests. This object aims to achieve Black empowerment in the wine industry, both within the Republic of South Africa and throughout the African continent. Commercial activity may be undertaken by the Club, however, all such activities will be subsidiary to stated objects. Importantly, all profits generated by the Club will be strictly reinvested into the Club for the benefit of its members and in furthering the Club’s object. The activities of the Club will include, but are not limited to; the provision of academic development for previously disadvantaged South Africans; providing educational initiatives centered on creating responsible drinking awareness; creating shared value in the South African wine industry and increasing inclusion of black South Africans in this sector of the economy.
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