2017 Sommeliers Selection winners announced

The Sommeliers Selection Wine Competition has become a competition with a difference, revolutionising local wine competitions, as it is judged solely by top South African Sommeliers.

With the rapid and exciting growth of both the food and wine industry in South Africa over the last 20 years, consumers are looking for experienced guidance when it comes to selecting wine.

With categories such as White: Fresh and Crunchy or Red: Voluptuous and Rich or Red: Elegant and Classy, wines of different varieties, blends, and pricing, but stylistically similar can stand alongside each other. The panel of Sommeliers judged and chose wines to match the various categories, blind tasting individually, before discussing the wines and deciding if the wine fulfills the criteria of being placed on the Sommeliers Selection wine list.

At the annual feedback session with the winning list, the panel discussed the entered wines, what they looked for in a perfect wine list and which wines ‘wowed’ them as well as the emphasis on the importance of judging wines for ideal pairing with food.

Wine passion and elegance

“Freshness, expression and elegance were attributes that stood out amongst this year’s winners at the Sommeliers Selection. The competition, now in its third year, has become one the most relevant and exciting competitions on the yearly calendar with its unique angle and approach. Lengthy and passionate discussions took place between the experienced sommeliers on the panel pertaining to the wines age worthiness, suitability to food, and the overall value for money. At the end, all wines awarded and selected for the wine list was ratified by one final re-tasting by the chair and the two heads of panel. The resulting selection of awarded wines are truly some of the best in the country, and something we can all proudly stand behind. Bravo!” said Joakim Hansi Blackadder, the Sommeliers Selection Competition Chairman and current board member of The South African Sommeliers Association.

Joakim Blackadder, a board member of The South African Sommeliers Association (SASA), chaired the 2017 Judging panel of The Sommeliers Selection. He was supported by members of SASA and BLACC, which included sommeliers Pearl Oliver, Joseph Dafana, Billet Magara, Barry Scholfield (panel chair), Esmé Groenewald and Spencer Fondaumiere (panel Chair). They were joined by Trainee Judges Melusi Magodhi and Minnie Mthombeni.

For a full list of the winning wines visit www.thesommeliersselection.co.za.

The Trade and Public tastings will take place in Johannesburg on Thursday, 28 September and Cape Town on Wednesday, 5 October 2017. For more information visit www.thesommeliersselection.co.za, email az.oc.noitcelessreilemmoseht@ofni or phone 084 2073820.