The 2026 Pebbles Youth Development Program offers youngsters an opportunity to gain skills which will give them more opportunity to find meaningful work. Their 6-month Serve-It Programme (Wine & Hospitality) combines practical hospitality, wine-service training and structured work placements in wineries, restaurants and hospitality venues. They cover food and beverage service, barista and coffee craft, wine service, cellar basics, front-of-house and guest relations, baking and kitchen support, digital literacy and entrepeneurship. The wine.co.za DTC Academy takes 18 of the 30 students through an 8-day Wine Service Essentials course, a combination of wine knowledge, service and sales. Neil Tabraham, our lead trainer, takes them through this journey, and part of the program is an immersion at a winery. We were honoured to visit Simonsig, the home of the first Cap Classique in South Africa, where they were taken on a tour and a tasting, hosted by a Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) alumni, Khanyiso Gcwabe. This is likely to be the very first wine tasting experience these youngsters will have and it is an honour to introduce them to the world of wine through this program. The Serve It program is looking for wineries and hospitality businesses to get involved: Host a work placement for a participant at your venue Mentor a participant or share expertise Sponsor a uniform or toolkit Sponsor a monthly stipend Offer employment of freelance work to a graduate We appreciate Simonsig hosting the Pebbles youth for the experience. Simonsig they clearly believe in youth development, as there were 2 PYDA youngsters working in the tasting room, doing their work placements there, and 2 alumni arriving for a tasting!