Cullinan awards for the wine connoisseur

The Collection by Liz McGrath brings with it a wealth of experience, the highest of standards and wisdom of a team international chefs and sommeliers.

The judging panel

Sommelier, Miguel Chan, of The Cellars-Hohenort will co-ordinate and manage the judging process in September 2008. The wines will tasted blind and judged by a tasting panel of Cape Wine Masters, Sommeliers, wine trade, wine journalists as well as three sommeliers from the Collection by Liz McGrath.

Maandeep Singh will be the international judge this year. Sommelier and journalist, Singh hosts consumer appreciation workshops in India and training for Oberoi, Imperial, Hyatt Regency, Radisson, Marriott Hotel groups, the Heritage Resorts, and various fine dining restaurants in India. Singh is an independent consultant to the ITC Sheraton and Taj hotels and the Moet-Hennessy group.

The judging is monitored by KPMG. Standard Bank and Chefs & Sommelier Open Up Glasses will each sponsor a wine category. Juliet Cullinan will be the convenor of the panel.

Giving the public a taste

The first Award public tasting will be held at The Cellars Hohenort on 16 September. The award entries will be paired with canapés designed to enhance the flavours of the grape varieties.

The Award aims to highlight the art of food and wine pairing by showcasing food designed to enhance the flavours of the grape varieties. The experienced team food and wine pairing experts include the talents of renowned chef Peter Tempelhoff, Executive Chef for The Collection by Liz McGrath and International Sommeliers Miguel Chan, Ricardo Roux of The Plettenberg and Michelle Michaels of The Marine. A selection of the highly rated Wine Award entries will be offered with foods designed to express and enhance flavours Various food and wine stations will be set around the Greenhouse restaurant at The Cellars-Hohenort. Each station will feature specific grape varieties and the chefs and sommeliers will be on hand at to discuss the uniqueness of the grape and how the food is an expression of the wine.

Juliet Cullinan, who completed a British Cordon Bleu in London in 1995 and local and international wine courses since 1982, will work closely with the Collection on the food and wine match. The Juliet Cullinan Wine Festival is held nationally and sponsored by Standard Bank in Johannesburg.

Makro will host a “Sip & Shop” service at all the wine events to allow wine lovers to purchase wines on offer at a discounted rate.

The Juliet Cullinan Wine Award Public Tastings will be hosted at The Collection by Liz McGrath hotels in Plettenberg Bay and Hermanus over the next few months. Tastings will also be held in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and East London.

The public tasting of the wines entered in the Juliet Cullinan Wine Connoisseur's Awards will take place:
Date: 16 September 2008
Time: 18h30
Venue: The Cellars-Hohenort
93 Brommersvlei Road
Constantia
Cost: R150 per person

For more details of to book, visit: www.julietcullinan.co.za or www.collectionmcgrath.com.