Sandra Harper, better known as Sandy, sits across the table remembering the smell of her childhood. The musk of fermenting wine in her father’s backyard. As a young girl in Kroonstad in the Free State, “about five or six”, she would work alongside her father cleaning his wine bottles.
She recalls how her father’s wine paired perfectly with her mother’s cooking. Eyes tearing, she reaches for her glass of still water, taking a sip and collecting herself. Sandy’s mother always wished for her to spread her wings. After studying at Stellenbosch University Sandy went on board South African Airways (SAA) and worked there on their on-board food Cape Wine Academy
Sandy met Dave Hughes, a wine industry icon, when she was around 24 years old. He had a profound influence on her life. She’d partner him to various events, sitting bright eyed and bushy tailed. It was only much later Sandy joined a wine club in Johannesburg.
Sandy and her family transferred to Cape Town. Having let go of her advertising business in Johannesburg and with “all this extra energy”, Sandy began channeling her energy into her children and her wine.
She became an active member in her two daughters schooling. Passionate about bettering the nutritional value of lunchboxes in her daughters’ school, she approached the school body with an 11-page meal plan. Unwilling to make Sandy’s recipes available to parents, she took the matter beyond the school system. After a bit of research, Sandy approached a Struik with her manuscript. “It was at the same time that Jamie [Oliver] was doing his whole exposé about the food that they were getting at the government schools in the UK,”. Struik signed Sandy, distributing, and selling out over 10 000 copies internationally. The Lunchbox Book, as it became known, was later translated into Afrikaans, German, French, Flemish and Dutch, amongst others.
With the book’s success, Sandy’s aim got lost in translation. Versions of her work were reprinted with far unhealthier options. A major disappointment, after the her book was endorsed by the Heart Foundation. Her credibility was undermined, “and because I was a little person, I had no leg to stand on” says Sandy. But the book has never about the success, it was for her mother.
The Cover of The Lunchbox Book. IMAGE: GOOGLE
The novel also influenced others. “Someone tapped me on the shoulder and told me ‘Sandy, you changed my daughter’s life” such an experience lingers in Sandy’s mind. You think you’re just doing one thing to tick it off your bucket list, not knowing the profound effect it can have on someone else.
Beyond the book Sandy had wine. With no academic knowledge, and only her enthusiasm and desire to support her husband, Michael, Sandy formed a wine club. She went on to run this club for many years until, once again, her family transferred to Johannesburg. Noticing the market differences, she realised a need for formal training.
Earlier in the day of the interview Sandy attended the 102nd induction lunch of the Cape Wine Masters of he is one of only 102 Cape Wine Masters in the world.
She recalls her final year, waking up in the early mornings, studying alongside her eldest daughter, Megan, who was in Matric during this time.
Now, she sits proudly “shoulder to shoulder” with massive names. One event in particular, International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), set in London, is the single biggest and most well-regarded wine and spirit competition and has been done since the early 1900s. Entries are received from across the globe “and to be invited to be a judge on that panel, in London, where you sit with international people from every part of the globe”.
To give back Sandy is involved with an immersion program for upcoming wine makers, which involves briefing sessions and tasting sessions. She also has a Cape Wine Masters prodigy, named Newman. A full-time sommelier and restaurant manager at the Michelangelo Hotel in Johannesburg originally from Zimbabwe. Sandy facilitates funding for his training.
During her children’s high school career, Sandy created a water polo tournament every school that encourages more well off schools to adopt an underprivileged partner school. She remember the start of it where out of 400 kids only two could actually float. The initiative started when her daughter came back from trials asking what quota was. “Everything was lily white” Sandy refers to taking her daughter to water polo trials. She drew up a proposal to Old Mutual, which Sandy has been professionally involved with before, 100% of the winnings of the tournament go to the partner school. Despite her daughters now being out of school for more than 3 years now, the tournament continues on.
When asked on what is next, Sandy spoke of a draft sitting on her computer. A draft wine and pairing book of all the meals she prepares at her family’s beach home in Sheffield, Durban. She believes there is a difference in her cooking here than when she is anywhere else. Her hope is to one day develop the wine industry in her new home in Sheffield. “I want to bring Cape Town to Kwa-Zulu Natal” says Sandy who at the beginning of 2019 move to the province.
Cape Wine Master, Sandy Harper, sitting over a glass of wine at Delairre Graaf Wine Esate. IMAGE: ZOE HUMAN.