TASTING South African Chenin Blancs was “a real mind-blowing experience” said Fongyee Walker. The Beijing based wine educator judged at the 2014 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show earlier this month and was excited to see the “diversity and range of styles produced so well.”
Wine lovers can taste more than 150 of the country’s best wines of the year – the trophy, gold or silver medal winners – at the all-popular Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2014 public tasting. Book tickets now for Thursday June 12 in Sandton. The line-up represents 153 laureates emerging from 1 040 wines judged by a panel of nine international and South African experts in May and offers an impressive array of sparkling, white, red, dessert and fortified wines. A highlight of the evening is undoubtedly raising a glass with the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show Most Successful Producer for 2014.
“There is a definite sense of growing maturity and sophistication within the industry. Coinciding with 20 years of democracy, we are more open to what the rest of the world is doing and it is starting to show in our wines,” commented Christian Eedes, wine writer, blogger and eighth-time Trophy Wine Show judge.
Wines to seek out include the Best White and Best Red Wine of Show, the trophy winners in many variety and class categories, the Best Museum Class wine, the winner of the International Judges’ Trophy and the best value gold medallist, winner of the coveted Discovery of the Show. Follow @omtrophywines on Twitter and visit www.trophywineshow.co.za for all the results on Wednesday May 28 from 16:00.
Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show Public Tasting – Sandton/Jozi
Date: Thursday June 12
Venue: Bill Gallagher Room (Level 2), Sandton Convention Centre, Maude Street, Sandton
Time: 18:00 to 21:00
Parking: Secure underground parking available at the convention centre and neighbouring shopping malls.
Bookings: Ticket sales via www.computicket.com or call 0861 915 8000. Tickets cost R150 each and limited tickets will be available at the door. Ticket includes tasting glass, unlimited tasting and a take-home copy of ICONS, the show’s comprehensive review of all the successful wines of the year. No entry allowed for u.18s, babies or prams.
Enquiries: 011 482 5936. www.trophywineshow.co.za; www.outsorceress.co.za. Find us on Facebook and follow @omtrophywines on Twitter.
The judging panel comprised three international and six local judges and was chaired by leading wine authority Michael Fridjhon. The international judges for 2014 were Gerard Basset MW (United Kingdom Master Sommelier, World’s Best Sommelier 2010), Véronique Drouhin-Boss (winemaker, Maison Joseph Drouhin, Burgundy) and Fongyee Walker (wine educator in China, international wine judge and contributor to Hong Kong Tatler). The local judges are Trizanne Barnard (winemaker, Trizanne Signature Wine), Christian Eedes (wine writer and blogger, founder of www.whatidranklastnight.co.za), James Pietersen (wine judge and consultant), JD Pretorius (winemaker, Steenberg Vineyards), François Rautenbach (Head, Premier Wine Programme, Singita Lodges) and Cathy van Zyl MW (Institute of Wine Masters education committee chair, lecturer and international judge). The participation of a team of associate judges, drawn from the pool of rising South African wine making and judging talent, is included in a supportive capacity. All wines are judged blind. The first Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show was held in 2002.
