Entries open for Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award

This annual competition, which is aimed at enhancing and recognising the calibre of local sommeliers and wine service staff, was launched in 2011 and has proved to be a resounding success.

The high standards attained by previous winners, Gareth Ferreira in 2014, Kayetan Meissner in 2013, Wayve Kolevsohn in 2012 and Joakim Hansi Blackadder in 2011, have set the benchmark for aspirant sommeliers. As with the previous competitions, the winner of the 2015 competition will be announced in October 2015 and awarded the Riedel Glass Trophy and a trip to France including a visit to the prestigious House of Champagne Bollinger.

Ginette de Fleuriot, Marketing Manager at Vinimark The Wine Company and organiser of The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award anticipates more entries this year, "We look forward to an increased number of entrants for The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award 2015 and to wider representation from all of South Africa's premier tourist regions."

Champagne Bollinger is proud to be the main sponsor of The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award. The competition is a joint initiative between Vinimark The Wine Company and The Reciprocal Wine Trading Company, importers and distributors of Riedel Glassware.

2014 runners-up Cassius Gumbo and Angie Langlands (3rd and 4th from left) with judges Higgo Jacobs (right) and Ginette de Fleuriot and Michael Crossley (left) of Riedel Glassware.

"This industry-wide initiative was established to advance the interests of all of the country's fine wine producers, as well as those who make their living from the sale of wine in hotels, restaurants and wine bars. The sponsors and organisers trust that this competition will continue to act as a catalyst for the hospitality industry to expand training facilities and support local sommeliers and sommeliers-in-training, in the interests of all those who enjoy dining out," she says.

"Wine service has a poor history in South Africa and only with incentives such as these will we find an improvement within the industry. Chefs in South Africa over the past 10 years have proved how good they are and now wine stewards/sommeliers need to be part of this movement so we can challenge the international markets," says Neil Grant, Chairman of the South African Sommelier Association (SASA).

SASA has committed to mentoring the winning candidates, to further assist in guaranteeing continued professional wine service of an international standard.

Competition entry criteria

• Contestants must be currently employed in the service of food and wine and have a history of a minimum of three years of such service.
  
• Contestants are required to have substantial knowledge of the local wine scene and of the professional service of both food and wine.
  
• They must also have an adequate knowledge of international wine appellations and styles of wine.
  
• They must be able to relate what is produced in South Africa to the expectations of international visitors more familiar with the major wine producing regions of the world.

Competition dateline

• First Round: Registration Forms and the completed Question Paper are to be submitted no later than 31 May 2015.
  
• Second Round: The Semi-Finals will compete in Cape Town in August 2015 at a venue to be announced.
  
• Final Round: The Finalists will compete in Cape Town in October 2015 at a venue to be announced.
  
• Competition winner announcement: The winner of The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award 2015 will be announced at an exclusive Champagne event in October 2015.

Judges at all rounds of the competition will include internationally trained sommeliers Cape Wine Masters and members of the hospitality trade.

For more information, go to www.wineserviceaward.co.za.