The awards are the brainchild of wine entrepreneurs John Woodward (of Frogitt & Vonkel Private Wine Merchants & Founder of the Jo'burg Wine Show) and Delarey Brugman (of the "Bring it Home" value chain optimisation model and CEO of Alluvia Winery & The Wine Specialist). They will pay attention not to the wine in the bottle but instead focus on the efforts by individuals and companies throughout the value chain for their contributions in this highly competitive global sector.
"We were relaxing on the Alluvia stoep after a Sunday lunch and enjoying a bottle of Ch. Mouton Rothschild 1982, when we realised that there was so much effort going into the production of one single product of enjoyment. It also dawned on us that we only celebrate the actual wine and not the tremendous efforts by every single person who has contributed into putting South African wine on the map. As businessmen and also ultimate enjoyers of the fruit of the vine, we felt that there exists a serious niche in acknowledging the unsung heroes of the industry," says Brugman.
These ruminations led to the FM Wine Business Awards, in which a panel of experts will adjudicate 15 categories. Category awards will include both on-trade and off-trade accomplishments.
"Not only have global leaders in their respective industries committed their time to the adjudication of these awards, but one of the country's most prominent financial publications has also indicated their support. The fact that the Financial Mail will publish a Special Report on the awards and distribute it with their publication means even greater spin-off for the various category winners and runners-up. Their involvement will also add significantly to the profile and stature of this event," says Woodward.
Norma Ratcliffe, who was the first woman to be inducted into the Cape Winemakers' Guild, will convene the panel of independent international and local industry leaders in finance, retail, marketing and advertising, brand building, packaging and design as well as logistics and distribution. The awards aim to recognise exemplary business acumen and successes that can strengthen South Africa's position as a global force.
Others on the panel include PSG chairman Jannie Mouton, Paul Finlayson of BoE, Rico Basson of Nedbank, Sune Brugman of Standard Corporate & Investment Bank and CEO of the Deutsche Bank, Herman Bosman, Dr Johan Bruwer of the Australia Wine Business School and Tom Ryan of the Wine Business Management Department of the University of Cape Town.
Internationally acclaimed brand consultants such as Thebe Ikalafeng and Kay Nash have also joined the panel.
Independent auditors BKR Logista will oversee selection and ratify the judges' assessments in the different award categories.
Entry into the competition is free and entry forms are available online. Entries close on 9 May 2008 and the winners will be announced during a gala dinner hosted by The Jo'burg Wine Show at Gallagher Estate, Midrand on Thursday, 26 June 2008. The third annual show kicks off at Gallagher on Friday, 27 June.
For more information or on-line entry forms, visit http://www.winebusinessawards.co.za/
