Vindigo Travel, an owner operated boutique operation who delight in tailoring special and memorable day tours, trips and company days out in the winelands. Cube Workspace enjoyed chatting to the owner, Melissa Sutherland, who has a fascinating background and zest for life.
Melissa Sutherland describes herself as a global citizen, passionate Capetonian, wine tourism promoter, professional tour guide and entrepreneur.
A graduate of the University of Cape Town, where she majored in English and French, Melissa is conversant in Afrikaans, French and German.
Melissa returned to Cape Town in 2006 having lived and worked for more than a decade in New York and Sydney. In the early years of South Africa’s democracy, she served as a Vice-Consul for Political and Cultural Affairs in New York.
After completing a Diploma in Publishing and Editing, she worked for McGraw-Hill Educational Publishers in Sydney where she lived for 5 years.
In 2008, she started her own company to share and connect people and opportunities around the wonderful worlds of wine, art and travel. During the 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa, she was selected to be a local storyteller as part of Cape Town Tourism’s ‘Beyond the 90 Minutes’ campaign.
For twenty five years Melissa’s parents owned a wine farm in the beautiful Cape Winelands and she developed a passion for wine and wine tourism completing the Certificate Course through the Cape Wine Academy and qualifying as a Professional Tour Guide in 2011.
When not guiding, conducting research and writing, she enjoys organizing painting days in the country and her weekly art classes.
Melissa is interested in history and enjoys writing biography and memoir as it captures the past for future generations. She recently wrote a book on the South African artist Frank Spears. She is also a blogger who has been shortlisted in international competitions for her wine tourism blogs.
Melissa, who lives in Cape Town with her husband and two teenagers, enjoys nothing more than sharing her love of South Africa and showcasing the best of what South Africa has to offer to well-travelled, seasoned and discerning visitors.
We asked Melissa why she chose Cube Workspace Rondebosch. “As an entrepreneur it can be quite isolating and so I enjoy the stimulating and supportive office environment at Cube and of course Rex’s coffee and Philly’s food!”
If you are interested in tailor made private wine and art safaris for you or your clients please contact Melisssa at Vindigo Travel.
Melissa Sutherland
Vindigo Travel
melissa@vindigotravel.com
www.vindigotravel.co.za
