THE BOLLINGER EXCEPTIONAL WINE SERVICE AWARD

Annual competition aimed at enhancing and recognising the calibre of local sommeliers and wine-service staff

One of the impediments to publicising the achievements of South African wine has been the absence of a class of wine waiters able to communicate the finer points of our wines and place them in an international context.

The past few years have seen important changes which have come some of the way to address this gap. These include the involvement of the Cape Wine Academy in creating a qualification for wine service professionals and the investments in waiter training driven by WOSA (Wines of South Africa) under the Fundi programme ahead of FIFA World Cup 2010. The increasing number of internationally trained sommeliers living and working in South Africa is also no doubt contributing to a raised level of awareness around issues of wine service.

An annual competition – aimed at encouraging those who seek to make a living from wine service – is clearly part of the next stage. Sponsored by Champagne Bollinger and with infrastructural support from Riedel Glassware, The Bollinger Wine Service of Excellence Award has been established to bring focus – and recognition of achievement – to the growing group of professional wine waiters in South Africa.

The competition is a joint initiative between Michael Fridjhon (importer of Riedel Glassware) and Vinimark The Wine Company (importer of Champagne Bollinger and South Africa’s largest independent specialist wine wholesaling company). Contestants will be required to have substantial knowledge of the local wine scene and of the professional service of both food and wine.

Insofar as the international wine market is concerned, contestants will be expected to have an adequate knowledge of classical appellations. More importantly, however, the contest will examine the ability of those selling wine in the on-consumption environment to relate what is produced in South Africa to the expectations of international visitors more familiar with the major wine producing regions of the world.

The Bollinger Wine Service of Excellence Award is intended to be an inclusive, industry-wide initiative. It has been established to advance the interests of all of the country’s fine wine producers, as well as those who have chosen a career in wine sales and service in hotels, restaurants and wine bars. The competition is open to those currently employed in the service of food and wine and with a history of minimum three years of such service. The winning candidate will be announced at The Swartland Revolution in November 2011 and can look forward to a trip to France including a trip to the prestigious House of Champagne Bollinger. Judges will include internationally trained sommeliers resident in South Africa.

Contestants

Mike Buthelezi – Signature Restaurant

Sean Trollip – Kream Restaurant

Francis Krone – Saxon Boutique Hotel

Gregory Mutambe -The 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa

David Nel – La Colombe Restaurant

Joakim Blackadder – The Roundhouse Restaurant

Josephine Gutentoft – Grande Roche Hotel & Bosman’s Restaurant

Carl Heinz Habel – Mount Nelson Hotel

Wayve Kolevsohn – Le Quartier Français

Eric Botha – The Oyster Box Hotel

For further details, visit the official website: www.wineserviceaward.co.za

Source: Posy & Jeremy Hazell PR

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