Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University (SU) is home to an academic community of 29 000 students (including 4 000 foreign students from 100 countries) as well as 3 000 permanent staff members (including 1 000 academics) on five campuses. The historical oak-lined university town amongst the Boland Mountains in the winelands of the Western Cape creates a unique campus atmosphere, which attracts local and foreign students alike. SU has ten faculties: AgriSciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering, Military Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Science, Education, Law and Theology. Stellenbosch is situated about 50 km from Cape Town and just 30 km from Cape Town International Airport.

The viticulture and oenology department (DVO) is part of the Faculty of AgriSciences. Situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch University has a long history of engagement with the sciences of the vine and the wine. Over the years, this Department underwent several significant organisational changes, including the separation of Viticulture and Oenology into two departments. The current organisational structure was established in 1995 with the amalgamation of these departments again as one and the addition of the Institute for Wine Biotechnology (IWBT). These initiatives led to the establishment of a new team of academics and researchers, and a new vision of integrated and multidisciplinary research that covers the full research value chain, from the generation of fundamental knowledge to the application of this knowledge. The scope of research and teaching in the traditional grape and wine sciences has been expanded and strengthened through the integration of new tools from the biological-, chemical- and sensory sciences.

The DVO is the only University-based department in South Africa that offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Viticulture and Oenology. The department has at its disposal well-equipped research facilities, including experimental and commercial vineyards, a small-scale teaching experimental cellar and an industry-scale research and training cellar. Research projects are supported by competitive grants awarded to the department by industry or government institutions. The department enjoys national and international recognition, and maintains contact and research collaboration with many national and international universities and research organisations.

Please visit the institution website for more information

Contact
Wessel DU TOIT
Email : wdutoit@sun.ac.za