The Sommeliers Selection 2019 winning wines have been announced in a year in which the popular wine tasting event – a must for those who like pairing wine with food – will take place in KwaZulu Natal for the first time, along with Gauteng and the Western Cape where it has been successfully held for the past four years.
The Sommeliers Selection is the only South African wine competition judged solely by a panel of South Africa’s top sommeliers, in categories fashioned around the perfect varietals for both a restaurant wine menu and to accompany food.
This year more than 400 wines from the country’s top wine estates were entered into the contest. Winning wines, beer and gin come from more than 60 farms with stand-out wines including the Glen Carlou Chardonnay 2018, Plaisir de Merle Grand Plaisir 2014, Idiom Bordeaux Blend 2015, Villiera Wines Tradition Brut NV, Peter Falke Wines Méthode Cap Classique 2013 and, in the craft beer category, the Cape Brewing Company’s Mandarina Bavaria IPA.
These – and many more – can be sampled at the tasting evenings to be held in October in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
Said Darielle Robertson from The Sommeliers Selection: “Our panel of sommeliers blind taste individually, before discussing the wines and deciding if they fulfill the criteria of being placed on the Sommeliers Selection ‘ultimate’ wine list. With categories such as Fresh & Crunchy White or Voluptuous & Rich Red, wines of different varieties, blends and pricing, but stylistically similar, can stand alongside each other and restaurant patrons can choose a wine that suits their palate and their pocket.”
Judges for this year’s competition were Joakim Hansi Blackadder, head of the wine programme for The Hoghouse Brewing Company and board member of both Somm Hospitality Enterprises and SA Sommelier Association; Wikus Human, head sommelier at Marble restaurant and Saint restaurant; Tinashe Nyamudoka, head sommelier at The Test Kitchen who has represented Zimbabwe at the World Blind Tasting Championships and is a board member of the South African Sommelier Association and the Black Cellar Club; Chantelle Gous who works with the Singita Premierwine Direct team; Wayve Kolevsohn, head sommelier at Ellerman House; Esmé Groenewald, administrator for the SA Sommelier Association and board member of Somm Hospitality Enterprises; Barry Scholfield, Chairperson of the SA Sommelier Association and Somm Hospitality Enterprises; Tongai Joseph Dhafana, internationally celebrated sommelier from La Colombe, wine judge with his own successful wine label Mosi Wines and board member of the BLACC Cellar and Xolani Mancotywa, recently appointed as a private client’s manager for the Moët Hennessy portfolio in South Africa.
The Sommeliers Selection tastings take place in October at:
JOHANNESBURG
- Venue: Pool Deck, Tsogo Sun Hyde Park
- Date: Wednesday, 16 October
- Times: 16:00-18:00 – trade only
18:00 – public admitted
21:00 – doors close
- Tickets: R100pp or R175 for two (no persons under 18 permitted)
- Book: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1494162960
DURBAN
- Venue: The Beverly Hills Hotel, uMhlanga
- Date: Thursday, 31 October
- Times: 16:00-18:00 – trade only
18:00 – public admitted
21:00 – doors close
- Tickets: R100pp or R175 for two (no persons under 18 permitted)
- Book: https://www.webtickets.co.za/performance.aspx?itemid=1494163066
WESTERN CAPE
- Venue: Roca Restaurant, Franschhoek
- Date: Wednesday, 9 October
- Times: 00-13h00 – trade only
11h30 – public admitted
13h00 – doors close
- Tickets: R100pp or R175 for two (no persons under 18 permitted)
- Book: https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=1494162960
Social media:
- Website: thesommeliersselection.co.za
- Facebook: @Sommeliersselection
- Twitter: @SommeliersS
- Instagram: @SommSelection
See the full list of Sommeliers Selection 2019 winners …..
THE SOMMELIERS SELECTION 2019 WINNERS:
ECONOMICALLY SAVVY WHITES
Bonnievale Wines The River Collection Chardonnay 2019
Montagu Winery Chenin Blanc 2019
Laborie Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Glen Carlou Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Trizanne Signature Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2019
De Kleine Wijn Koöp Klipkers Wit 2019
Zevenwacht Wine Estate The Tin Mine 2018
ECONOMICALLY SAVVY REDS
Arra Wines Cape Blend 2013
Bonnievale Wines Bonnievale River Collection Pinotage 2018
Flagstone Winery Treaty Tree Cabernet Malbec Merlot 2017
Flagstone Winery Truth Tree Pinotage 2017
ECONOMICALLY SAVVY PINKS
Anthonij Rupert Wyne Protea Dry Rosé 2019
ECONOMICALLY SAVVY FIZZ
D’Aria Winery Love Song Pinot Noir 2018
FRESH & CRUNCHY – WHITES
Villiera Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2019
De Grendel Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Groote Post Vineyards Seasalter 2019
ELEGANT & CLASSY – WHITES
Constantia Uitsig Natura Vista 2017
Constantia Uitsig Semillon 2017
Highlands Road Wines Chardonnay 2017
uniWines Daschbosch Steen 2017
Shannon Vineyards Triangle Block 2017
Glen Carlou Chardonnay 2018*
Klein Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Kaapzicht Wine Estate Kliprug Chenin Blanc 2018
Groot Constantia Wine Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Botha Kelder Amyah Chenin Blanc 2018
Botha Kelder Amyah Chardonnay 2018
Creation Wines Reserve Chardonnay 2018
Anthonij Rupert Wyne Cape of Good Hope Serruria Chardonnay 2017
VOLUPTUOUS & RICH – WHITES
Perdeberg Cellar The Dry Land Collection Rossouw’s Heritage 2017
De Wet Wine Cellar Chardonnay 2018
The Bridge of Hope Wines Chardonnay 2018
Ken Forrester Wines The FMC 2018
LUSCIOUS & AROMATIC – WHITES
Zevenwacht Wine Estate Gewürztraminer 2016
M’hudi Wines Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2017
Groote Post Vineyards
Kapokberg Chardonnay 2017
Lothian Vineyards Riesling – Vineyard Selection 2018
PINKS
Boschendal The Rose Garden Rosé 2019
Vrede en Lust Jess Rosé 2019
FRESH & CRUNCHY – REDS
Wildehurst Wines Cinsault 2017
ELEGANT & CLASSY – REDS
Quoin Rock Wines Namysto Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
The High Road Classique 2015
Jason’s Hill Private Cellar Izak Reserve 2015
Stofberg Family Vineyards Le Belle Rebelle Mariette Syrah 2015
Quoin Rock Wines Shiraz 2015
Quoin Rock Wines Red Blend 2015
Vrede en Lust Lady J Syrah 2016
Iona Solace 2016
Waverley Hills De Huijsbosch 2017
Aslina Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier 2017
Groot Constantia Wine Estate Gouverneurs Reserve 2017
Babylonstoren Babel 2018
Elgin Vintners Ridgelands Pinot Noir 2018
Mischa Estate Malbec Limited Edition 2018
Plaisir de Merle Grand Plaisir 2014*
VOLUPTUOUS & RICH – REDS
Brampton Wines Brampton Roxton 2015
Old Road Wine Co. The Butcher and Cleaver 2015
Idiom Bordeaux Blend 2015*
Lourensford Wine Estate Chrysalis Red Blend 2015
Peter Falke Wines PF Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Elgin Vintners Ridgelands Syrah 2016
Flagstone Winery Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Wildekrans Wine Estate Cape Blend Barrel Select Reserve 2016
Tokara Directors Reserve Red 2016
De Grendel Wines Amandelboord Pinotage 2017
Wildekrans Wine Estate Pinotage Barrel Select Reserve 2016
Creation Wines Reserve Syrah 2017
PALE FIZZ
Villiera Wines Tradition Brut NV*
Hout Bay Vineyards Klasiek MCC 2016
ROSÉ FIZZ
Villiera Wines Tradition Brut Rosé NV
VINTAGE FIZZ
Domaine des Dieux Claudia Brut MCC 2013
La Motte Méthode Cap Classique Brut 2016
Peter Falke Wines Méthode Cap Classique 2013*
STICKIES & FORTIFIED WINES
Constantia Nectar Natural Sweet Wine 2009
Piekenierskloof Wine Company Straw Wine 2017
CRAFT SPIRITS
Bartinney Private Cellar The Tempest Gin Autumn
CRAFT BEER
Cape Brewing Company Lite Lager
Cape Brewing Company Lager
Hoghouse Brewing company Haybale/Saison
Stellenbosch Brewing Company Whaow! Imperial Stout
Cape Brewing Company Amber Weiss
Cape Brewing Company Mandarina Bavaria IPA*
*STAND OUT WINES/BEER