DnA Event Management has announced that it is calling for entries for the inaugural The Sommelier Selection, which will become a list of wines which will receive the stamp of approval of sommelier judges who serve on the committee of the South African Sommelier Association, the first local wine competition judged by a panel of sommeliers, and aimed at assisting the ‘everyday wine drinker’ in selecting good and affordable wines.
Not only wines in categories of House Wine under R110 a bottle (White, Red, Rosé, ‘Bubbles‘, ‘Sweets‘); Whites (Fresh/Crunchy, Elegant/Classy, Full/Rich, Luscious/Aromatic); Reds (Fresh/Juicy, Elegant/Classy, Voluptuous/Rich); Pinks (Rosés, Blanc de Noirs); ‘Fizzys/Bubbles‘ (MCC Non Vintage, MCC Vintage, MCC Rosé, MCC Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling Wine); ‘Stickys‘ (Natural Sweet, Straw, and Noble Late Harvest, Fortified, Port, Sherry, and Fortified Wines); Cellar Selection (limited quantities, flagship wines, old and rare); and international wines be judged, but Beers and Ciders will also be evaluated. A Wine by the Glass Trophy will be awarded per category too.
Sommelier judges Neil Grant, Higgo Jacobs, David Clarke, Joakim Blakadder, and Jörg Pfützner will evaluate the wines blind within the categories in terms of their ‘food friendliness, versatility, fruit purity, character, and value for money’. Wines will be scored out of 100. Two panels with three sommeliers each and an associate sommelier each will judge the wines on wine style and price points, not taking grape variety into account. More than one wine can win a category, or no wines may be judged to be good enough in a category. Only 100 wines will be tasted per panel per day. Spiegelau stemware will be used for the judging. Once The Sommelier Selection wines have been announced, they will be marketed by DnA for availability in the trade, the winning The Sommelier Selection wines being recognisable in their ‘fun and descriptive necktags‘ and bottle stickers. An annual PR program as well as a Social Media campaign will support The Sommelier Selection wines. Public tastings are planned for the public, as are winemaker/sommelier dinners at leading restaurants.
Wines entered must have a production quantity of at least 300 bottles, and three bottles per wine entered must be available for the judging. Judges will evaluate beers, ciders, and bubblies at 7ºC, white wines at 13ºC, and red wines at 18ºC. Cellar election wine will be decanted prior to the tasting.
Entries close on 8 May, with judging taking place from 3 – 5 June. Public tastings will be held at The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa and the results announced on 19 June, while a public tasting will be held in Pretoria on 26 June. It is a pity that the copy on the website and in the media release does not represent the quality of the wines to be judged!
The Sommelier Selection, DnA Event Management, cell 0842073820 www.thesommelierselection Twitter: @TheSommeliersSelection
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook: click here
20
3070
27k
20