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SOMMS LIKE IT HOT: KEEN INTEREST IN WINES OF SOUTH AFRICA'S SOMMELIER CUP

With South Africa singled out by tastemakers as one of the world's most exciting and innovative wine countries right now, the competition to make it into the Wines of South Africa (WOSA) Sommelier Cup finals is heating up. Entries have been coming in since the beginning of March, when participation officially opened.

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. 

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 winelovers. 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..

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

Will Predhomme, winner of the 2013 Wines of South Africa Sommelier Cup

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."

Siobhan Thompson, CEO Wines of South Africa

For more information on how to enter and the various rounds entailed to reach the finals, go to www.wosasommeliercup.co.za

#CAPESomm

DATE                    MARCH 2016

ISSUED BY           DKC

                            ON BEHALF OF WINES OF SOUTH AFRICA

                            QUERIES ANDRÉ MORGENTHAL, WOSA, andre@wosa.co.za, +27 82 883 3860, +27 82 658 3883

                            PIPPA CARTER, WOSA, pippa@wosa.co.za, +27 21 883 3860

                            TESSA DE KOCK/NICKY BAYLY, DKC, +27 21 422 2690 or  +27 82 579 2358

Hoëresolusie-foto’s is beskikbaar op aanvraag.

SOMMELIERS IS NIE SOMMERSO NIE:  WOSA SE SOMMERLIERBEKER SKEP GROOT BELANGSTELLING IN SA WYNE

Smaakskeppers beskou Suid-Afrika tans as een van die opwindendste en mees vernuwende wynlande ter wêreld, en dus is daar al hoe strawwer mededinging om die eindronde van Wines of South Africa (WOSA) se Sommelierbeker te haal. Inskrywings stroom al van begin Maart in toe deelname amptelik geopen het.

Die driejaarlikse gebeurtenis is oop vir sommeliers wat in nege van Suid-Afrika se sleutelgroeimarkte in die restaurantbedryf werksaam is. Die betrokke markte is die VSA, Kanada, Asië, Duitsland, Swede, die VK, Nederland, Kenia en Ghana.

Finaliste sal Kaapstad en die Kaapse Wynland van 19 tot 24 September as gaste van WOSA besoek. Eers moet hulle egter tydens ’n reeks aanvanklike kompetisiestadiums in die deelnemende lande bewys dat hulle oor dieptekennis van Suid-Afrika se wyne beskik.

Dié beïnvloeders dien as verbruikers se poortwagte, en is dus ’n belangrike groep in WOSA se visier om die land se wynmaakprofiel onder internasionale wynliefhebbers te bou. Die bedoeling is om finaliste eerstehands aan die beste Suid-Afrikaanse wyne en wynmaakmetodes bloot te stel, sodat hulle die inligting en konteks kan kry om ambassadeurs vir die land te word.

Vanjaar se beoordelaarspaneel bestaan uit ses gerekende internasionale en plaaslike sommeliers. WOSA sal ten nouste met die paneel en Suid-Afrikaanse Sommeliervereniging saamwerk om eindronde van topgehalte te verseker. Dié vind op 23 September in die Taj-hotel in Kaapstad plaas. 

Will Predhomme, winner of the 2013 Wines of South Africa Sommelier Cup

Siobhan Thompson, WOSA se uitvoerende hoof, sê: “Noudat die land se reputasie vir baanbrekende, ongewone en individualistiese wyne die belangstelling van ’n breër gehoor gelok het, is Suid-Afrika ’n vuurwarm kategorie. Daar is ongekende belangstelling om aan die 2016-sommelierbeker deel te neem.

Siobhan Thompson, CEO Wines of South Africa

“Deel van die aanloklikheid is ongetwyfeld die kans om tyd deur te bring met etlike wynmakers wat help om dié reputasie te skep. Hulle is merkwaardig vurig en versiende, maar is tog mense met hul voete plat op die aarde. Dis mense wat’n unieke en verfrissende stem gevind het.

“Samewerking met sulke oorspronklike wynmakers, en ’n besoek aan sekerlik etlike van die pragtigste wynmaakplekke op aarde, sal sorg dat dit die belewenis van ’n leeftyd word.”

Gaan na www.wosasommeliercup.co.za vir nadere inligting oor hoe om in te skryf, asook die voorafgaande rondes wat na die eindronde lei.

#CAPESomm

DATUM                      MAART 2016

UITGEREIK DEUR      DKC (DE KOCK KOMMUNIKASIE)

NAMENS                    WINES OF SOUTH AFRICA

 NAVRAE                   ANDRÉ MORGENTHAL, WOSA, andre@wosa.co.za, +27 82 883 3860, +27 82 658 3883

                                  PIPPA CARTER, WOSA, pippa@wosa.co.za, +27 21 883 3860

                                  TESSA DE KOCK/NICKY BAYLY, DKC, +27 21 422 2690 of  +27 82 579 2358