Sometimes, a dream job catches you by surprise and you don’t realise it’s your dream until you’re living it. Through a bit of luck and good timing, plus a major can-do attitude backed by a clear aptitude for her craft, Katlego Mathobela, now the group sommelier at Eat Out one-star restaurant Proud Mary, found herself in the world of wine and she’s never looked back. She shares her journey and the lessons she’s learnt.  

Learning on the job
“I was a junior supervisor at Forum Homini and the position needed a wine background. Luckily, I used to do stock controlling at my previous job, so they enrolled me in WSET level 1, and the world of wine was opened to me. Foreign as it was, I’ve never looked back,” explains Katlego of the path she took to becoming a sommelier. “It was only after I acquired WSET level 1 that I found out about sommeliers and what [the job] actually entails.”  

With her certification under her belt, Katlego learnt on the job at Forum Homini: “I learnt how to taste wine, distinguish between the different varietals, the importance of balance when it comes to wine pairing and the art of creating a marriage between a wine and a dish.” 

She knew that entering the industry would be difficult, but she didn’t let that stop her. “I decided that you know what? It will be hard being a woman of colour in this new industry, but I’ll give it my best.” And now she loves her work. Especially, “watching how the wine-drinking community is growing, learning and branching out of Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon to drinking Grenache Noir or Semillon. It’s beautiful having those conversations about the different varietals, wine-making style and taste.” 

 

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Educating through wine
Now, certified as WSET level three, Katlego curates the wine list at Proud Mary with a focus on introducing guests to local wines they might not know about. “We look at the wine list at Proud Mary as an educational wine list. Our ethos is to introduce our customers to South African wine producers that make really great wines, and to show them that there are more beautiful local wines produced than just what they find in liquor stores,” she explains. “We find boutique wine farms that offer a vast variety of wines to introduce to customers, from orange wines to small-batch wines and other varietals, such as Pinot gris, Cinsault, Palomino and so on.” 

And it doesn’t stop there, Katlego also works hard to ensure that the wines pair perfectly with the food on offer. “The wines we select must also complement our menu in order to enhance the dining experience. We engage with our customers through wine recommendations, wine pairing or just talking through the wine list itself.” 

Reaping the rewards
Recently announced as the winner of the Food XX Front of House award, Katlego is an amazing example of what hard work and dedication can achieve. “It was a true honour to be recognised by such a renowned organisation for women in the industry. It goes to show that my hard work, dedication and passion is seen and appreciated, and will encourage future women, who would love to grow or enter this industry. You know, hard work does pay off.”  

Paying it forward
While Katlego had to put in the hard yards as she forged her way through unchartered territory, she’s quick to acknowledge those who helped her, highlighting the importance of a good mentor. “My mentors throughout my career have been Wikus Human, the Head Sommelier for the Marble Group, and Pieta Dreyer, my head sommelier at Forum Homini. They encouraged me, guided me, helped me find confidence in this industry and pushed me to be better,” she says. She also has sound advice for women looking to follow in her footsteps: “In such a male-dominated industry, it’s okay to be different and to choose a different path. Wine is fun, challenging, and with endless possibilities for women. Plus, you get to meet really incredible winemakers.”