Altogether
1 767 wines, entered in 18 classes with Dry Red (216 wines), Shiraz (190 wines)
and Sauvignon Blanc (189 wines) the top three, will be sniffed, swirled, tasted
and adjudicated by more than 100 judges, seven representing international
countries where a lot of South African wines are sold.
Lynne Sherriff MW, is one of the
world’s most authoritative wine experts, the first South African chairperson of
the international Institute
of Masters of Wine, and a
qualified Cape Wine Master. Joining Lynne will be Johan Larsson, who holds the title as wine adviser to the King and
Queen of Sweden. He is also the chief wine buyer of South
African, Greek, Turkish and Asian wines for the Swedish wine retail monopoly,
Systembolaget.
Paul White is an American
freelance wine writer, judge and editor with an international focus and lives
in New Zealand.
A familiar face at Veritas, Thomas Lüber
from Germany,
has extensive wine judging and buying experience and has served as the chief
buyer of SA wines for WIV Wein International AG – the world’s largest direct
wine sales company.
Janåke Johansson, a
familiar name in wine circles around the world is an expert taster and judge
and a well known importer of SA wines in Sweden, will be joined by Australian Richard Rowe, who is an exceptional
judge, consultant and former chief winemaker at KWV.
Denis Lahouratate, cellar
master at the French House of Bisquit Cognac,
brings his expertise to the competition to judge the 31 brandy entries.
According
to SANWSA chairperson Charles Hopkins, judges may represent any sector of the
wine or brandy industry, but a judging certificate from the University of Stellenbosch,
a Cape Wine Master’s Diploma or similar accreditation is essential.
International
judges must be experienced wine tasters in their home countries, but
international experience is obligatory. “These international panel members are
all decision makers and experts with brilliant experience in the tasting of
wines and brandies. For South
Africa, this is a wonderful opportunity to
create ambassadors of our wine to, when they go back to their respective
countries, spread our wine message. The reputation and integrity of the judges
we chose this year is without a doubt of the highest standard,” he concluded.
The
local team of judges consist of a variety of winemakers, researchers,
academics, Cape Wine Masters, wine buyers, wine writers and consultants. Panels
of seven judges blind taste the entries according to areas of expertise.
Scores
are awarded according to the 20-point scale: 18 or more wins a double gold; 17
points is worth gold and silver goes to a 16-point wine/brandy. A bronze medal goes to a wine/brandy with 15
points.
The
announcement of the medal winners will take place on 4 October at the Cape
International Convention Centre (CTICC) at a dazzling event sponsored by
Agri-Expo.
For more information, contact Elsabé Ferreira on 021 863 1599, fax 021 863 1552 or e-mail admin@veritas.co.za.
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