Competition for Sommelier Cup heating up

©Luca Bertolli via 123RF

The triennial event is open to anyone currently working in the restaurant trade in nine of South Africa's key growth markets. These are the US, Canada, Asia, Germany, Sweden, the UK, the Netherlands, Kenya and Ghana.

Identifiying wine ambassadors

Finalists will visit the Cape Winelands and Cape Town from September 18 to 24, hosted by WOSA. But first they will have to prove their in-depth knowledge of South African wines in a series of initial competition stages held in the participating countries.

As gatekeepers to consumers, these influencers are an important target group for WOSA in building the country's winemaking profile amongst international wine lovers. The idea is to expose finalists firsthand to the best in South African wines and winemaking, equipping them with the information and context to become de facto ambassadors.

Judges

This year's judges for the final round include Master Sommelier James Tidwell, who serves on the board of directors for the Court of Master Sommeliers - Americas and is the co-founder of TEXSOM, the annual Texas Sommelier Conference, as well as publisher of the magazine Sommelier.

He will be joined by Totte Steneby, one of Sweden's two most highly qualified sommeliers and a former winner of Best Sommelier of Sweden and Best Sommelier of the Nordic Countries. Steneby also judges for Decanter World Wine Awards and works closely with celebrity sommelier Rajat Parr.

Also on the panel will be the 2013 winner of the WOSA Sommelier Cup, Will Predhomme of Canada. A former Sommelier du Monde in Japan, he is now making wine in his native country and the US.

Will Predhomme, winner of the 2013 WOSA Sommelier Cup and a member of the 2016 judging panel

South Africa will be represented on the judging panel by three top local sommeliers, who are members of the SA Sommelier Association (SASA).

Imagination capturing trailblazers

WOSA CEO Siobhan Thompson says: "Now that the country's reputation for trailblazing, unusual and individualist winemaking has captured the wider public imagination, South Africa has become a 'hot' category and interest in competing in the 2016 Sommelier Cup is at an unprecedented high."

"Part of the attraction is undoubtedly the opportunity to spend time with a selection of the winemakers who are shaping this reputation. They're remarkably passionate, visionary but down-to-earth people who have found a voice that is unique and refreshing.

"Engaging with such original winemakers and encountering what must count as some of the world's most beautiful wine-growing spots will make this an experience of a lifetime."

For more information on how to enter and the various rounds entailed to reach the finals, go to WOSA Sommelier Cup.