Wine Analytical Service Laboratory (WASLab), a black-owned wine laboratory at Spier Wine Farm, received the award for the third Best Wine Laboratory in the Country through the South African Wine Laboratories Association (SAWLA).
In this annual competition, the Stellenbosch based laboratory and other SAWLA member labs received two unknown wine samples monthly for 12 months.
The laboratories, in turn, had to submit 14 results every month.
WASLab scored only A-results in the competition, which saw about 50 labs from across the country participate.
The local laboratory was founded by Merecia Smith, a former employee of Spier, in July 2019. She joined the farm as a general worker in 1998 and started working in the wine analysis laboratory four years later.
Her hard work and passion for accuracy saw her rise through the ranks from an assistant to ultimately becoming the lab’s manager in 2018. With Spier’s support, she pursued her dream and finally launched her own business.
Said Smith of WASLab’s recent achievement: “I am very happy about this award. The SAWLA Lab of the Year award is a sought-after recognition for any wine laboratories that form part of this scheme. As an independent laboratory, this award will not only give our existing clients assurance that WASLab can compete with the best in industry, but also help to draw more interests from potential clients seeking to make use of our service.”
