In a spirited display of expertise and camaraderie the Stellenbosch Wine Routes Ubuntu Trophy 2023 concluded with a historic win for South Africa’s finest sommeliers.
The prestigious event, held at the Lanzerac Hotel on Monday 11 December, marked another successful year of celebrating sommelier excellence on the continent. This year’s competition, the only international sommelier contest in Africa, was particularly notable for its team-oriented format, embodying the spirit of ubuntu.
The only requirements for participation was membership of one of the two national sommelier associations and a passport indicating the country represented. In the first round in the morning sommeliers were selected who would then take part as two national teams in the final round.
Teams from South Africa and Zimbabwe faced a series of challenges, testing their talent, culinary and beverage knowledge, and their capacity to deliver an exceptional experience to the guests. The final round was broadcast live on social media.
South Africa’s team, comprising Laurie Cooper, Juliet Bowley-Urquhart and George Edward Young, emerged victorious against a formidable Zimbabwean team in a thrilling final.
The competition, organised by the Sommeliers Academy and expertly managed by Jean-Vincent Ridon, and assisted by Tawanda Marume, Best Sommelier of Zimbabwe 2020, began with a semi-final featuring 11 candidates. They undertook the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) Certification 1 exam, with their scores and the results of a blind tasting determining the finalists.
The final was judged by an esteemed panel of international judges, including Best Sommelier of the World Giuseppe Vaccarini and ASI vice-president Michèle Chantome.
While SA clinched the team trophy, individual accolades went to Tadiswa Chikwanha of Zimbabwe, who was awarded the title of Best Sommelier of Zimbabwe 2023. His exceptional performance earned him a R30 000 scholarship from the Chenin Noir Foundation.
This year also saw a unique collaboration with the Beer Association of South Africa to promote improved beer service and responsible drinking. Candidates were tasked with serving an array of beverages, including alcohol-free beer and craft brewery ale.
The Ubuntu Trophy is fast becoming a noted event on the alcoholic beverage calendar. Contestants’ ability to create experiences are remarkable and they are very comfortable in sharing the wisdom the have acquired about wine, food and beer. “More and more people expect proper beer service,” explained Ridon.
