A career in wine was probably the last thing Mpho Masiu imagined while growing up in Welkom in the Free State. But the 21-year-old intern at the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town was recently named Best Wine Steward in the Cape Legends Inter Hotel Challenge, an annual competition that recognises young talent in the South African hospitality industry. Seeing off stiff competition from 25 hotels from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng , Masiu won (among other prizes) a bursary from the Cape Wine Academy, expert mentoring under Tsogo Sun sommelier Georgio Meletiou and a Cape Winelands trip.Where did your wine journey begin?After matric I wanted to study tourism and travel the world, but I wasn't able to due to some problems at home. Out of the blue, I got a call from the Department of Education asking if I was interested in learning about wine. I had no idea there was even such a thing as studying wine! I decided to go for it, because I wasn't busy doing anything else. I studied through the Cape Wine Academy at Stenden University in Port Alfred, Eastern Cape.Did you find it easy?At first it was difficult because I didn't know anything about the different grape varieties and wine styles. I also felt lost in wine tastings because I didn't know how to describe the different smells and tastes. The only wines I'd ever drunk were sweet rosés! But slowly it started making sense and I started falling in love.story_article_left1How did you end up at the Cape Grace?I chose to do my practical training in Cape Town because it's the home of South African wine. The Cape Grace offered me an internship, which means doing everything from filling ice buckets to talking guests through the whole tasting menu (which changes every six weeks).What's your favourite part of the job?I love meeting people from all over the world, especially if they are as passionate about wine as I am. Being a wine steward is not just about pouring a drink, it's about having conversations.What was it like to compete in the Cape Legends Inter Hotel Challenge?It wasn't easy! I was the youngest, an intern, competing against restaurant managers! But with support from my mentors [Cape Grace wine experience manager Martin Drotsky and sommelier Marlvin Gwese], I made it through.What advice would you give to anyone interested in a career in wine?It's hard work so you need to love it. If your heart's not in it, you won't ever make it to the top...