Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint an accredited service provider, specifically a wine academy, to deliver a comprehensive wine course for undergraduate students at the University of Johannesburg. The course aims to teach, assess, and issue sommelier certification, focusing on wines of South Africa and internationally. The program intends to equip students with knowledge and skills relevant to employment in the wine industry or entrepreneurship within the sector.

Scope

The scope of the project includes:

• Provision of a wine course with learning materials, instruction, and certification over a period of three years.
• Teaching students through a curriculum that covers regional wine studies, wine making processes, tasting and service skills, and advanced wine service techniques.
• Engagement of a Wine Master to deliver the course content.
• Targeting approximately 328 students across semesters 1 and 2 of 2026.
• Assessment and certification of students, including sommelier qualifications.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for the tender include:

• Delivery of a structured curriculum covering:
• Introduction to wine making, fermentation, aging, and bottling processes.
• Regional wine studies focusing on South African and international wines.
• Wine tasting fundamentals and professional service skills.
• Advanced techniques such as barrel aging, blending, sparkling wine production.
• Food and wine pairing mastery.
• Advanced service and upselling strategies.
• Provision of learning materials and resources with relevant certifications.
• Qualified instructors, including a Wine Master, with proven experience.
• Assessment of student performance and certification issuance.
• Compliance with the UJ Supply Agreement and relevant standards.

Skills Requirements

The skills and qualifications required from bidders include:

• Experience in delivering wine education programs, preferably within higher education institutions.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in wine training, with valid certification.
• Capability to develop and deliver a comprehensive curriculum on wine production, tasting, and service.
• Ability to provide qualified instructors, including a Wine Master.
• Proficiency in assessment and certification processes for students.
• Strong project management skills to deliver the program over three years.
• Compliance with all legal and quality assurance standards, including ISO, SABS, and COIDA where applicable.