On Wednesday, 9 October the three finalists will meet at Ellerman House in Bantry Bay to challenge each other for the Riedel Glass Trophy, and a trip to the House of Champagne Bollinger in France.
Organiser of the award, Ginette de Fleuriot, is very impressed with the high calibre of the 2013 finalists: "This is the third year that we are staging this competition and, each year, it's most gratifying to see such exceptional young sommeliers coming to the fore. The final will no doubt be fiercely competitive, not least because we, once again, will have a real North-South contest on our hands for this prestigious award."
The final will be a testing day of written exams, blind tastings and a practical assessment. They will be judged on a wide spectrum of wine and food service and will be tested on any number of the following:
• Wine styles and terminology;
• Wine label information;
• Wine regulations and regions of origin;
• Major international wine regions and their wines;
• Identifying wines in a blind tasting;
• Service techniques;
• Food and wine pairing;
• Wine storage; and
• Social skills and ability to interact with the patron.
The winner of The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award 2013 will be announced at a champagne event at Ellerman House on 31 October, 2013, and will win a trip to the House of Champagne Bollinger in France, including airfare and accommodation. The prize for the runner-up is a one-night stay for two, including bed and breakfast at the luxury boutique hotel Ellerman House, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean in Bantry Bay.
Judges at all rounds of the annual competition include internationally trained sommeliers, Cape Wine Masters, and members of the hospitality trade.
For further details, go to www.wineserviceaward.co.za
