Allan Mullins Receives Legacy Award for his Role in Cap Classique Industry

Tuesday, 23 September, 2014
Simonsig Estate
Allan Mullins, Cape Wine Master and well-known wine consultant to Woolworths, is the first recipient of the Frans Malan Legacy Award which was presented at the recent Amorim Cap Classique Challenge in Cape Town.
Named after the late Frans Malan of the Simonsig Estate in Stellenbosch who in 1971 produced South Africa’s first bottle-fermented sparkling wine, this award honours individuals for their role in helping build the Cap Classique category into the important place it has attained in the local wine industry.

According to Emile Joubert, spokesperson for Amorim South Africa, the decision to present the award to Allan Mullins was a unanimous decision between Amorim and the Cap Classique Association.

“For thirty years Allan has been a major source of advice on knowledge of our country’s Cap Classique sparkling wines,” says Joubert. “His love for this product led him to do his Cape Wine Master’s thesis on sparkling wine in South Africa. And since joining Woolworths in 1990 Allan has used his position to promote and - through his collaboration with the country’s wine producers - oversee the continued improvement in the quality of Cap Classique. That this wine is today one of the most popular styles among South African consumers can largely be linked to Allan being associated with Cap Classique and his role in ensuring consumers get access to top quality products through Woolworths.”

Mullins, who was chairman of the panel of judges for this year’s Cap Classique Challenge, has been involved with the competition since 2000. According to Joubert his skill as a wine taster and judge has also led to the reputation the Cap Classique Challenge enjoys as one of the country’s top wine competitions.

“Allan’s extraordinary ability to taste sparkling wines, offer constructive advice and manage a team of judges has made it an honour for Amorim to have Allan involved,” says Joubert. “He is also one of the true gentlemen of the South African wine industry whose positive demeanour and enthusiasm about wine and life is an example to all of us who work in the wine business.”

Mullins says receiving the Frans Malan Legacy Award came as a big surprise stating, “my work with Cap Classique and wine has been nothing but a pleasure, so to receive an award for your passion feels a bit odd as it does not feel like something I have had to do any real work for.” says Mullins. “I am deeply honoured, especially as the award is named after Frans Malan from Simonsig - at the very first Cap Classique Challenge I was handing an award to best Cap Classique to Johan Malan, Frans Malan’s son and wine maker at Simonsig."

“I humbly accept this and look forward to being a part of the continual excellence of the Cap Classique industry.”
subscribe to news
Antoinette Malan, Alan Mullins and Francois Malan from Simonsig
Antoinette Malan, Alan Mullins and Francois Malan from Simonsig

more news