12 nations to compete in WOSA Sommelier Cup contests

The finals will take place in October, confirmed WOSA CEO Su Birch. She said that the country's wines were increasingly claiming the attention of connoisseurs for their excellence, diversity and originality, winning many major awards. "It's no surprise then that South Africa has recently been singled out by several influential critics as currently the most exciting source of New World wines."

She added that market researcher Euromonitor had projected that the on-consumption trade in the markets where the competition is being held was projected to grow by 31% over the next five years to reach 5 billion litres by 2018. "It therefore becomes increasingly important to work with sommeliers, who have become one of the most influential groups of wine specialists.

"In the US, Europe and parts of Asia, some sommeliers have assumed an almost celebrity status, with many now making wines under their own labels and running their own high-profile restaurants. Fascination for the role of sommeliers has grown to such an extent that last year's documentary movie Somm, about four sommeliers who attempt to pass the prestigious Master Sommelier exam, a test with one of the lowest pass rates in the world, has been screened worldwide."

The preliminary WOSA Sommelier Cup contests are currently underway in the US, Canada, the UK, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Russia, China, as well as Hong Kong, which is also serving as the centre for all other Asian nations.

Details of each semi-final can be found at www.wosasommeliercup.co.za.

Final at the Grand Roche

The successful group of 12 semi-finalists will fly to South Africa in October for a week-long trip to the South African Winelands prior to competing in the final at the luxury hotel, Grand Roche.

In the lead-up to the finals on 12 October, they will meet and taste with some of the country's top winemakers, dine in world-class restaurants and explore the diversity of offerings amidst the spectacularly beautiful wine regions, many set against dramatic mountains or close to either the Atlantic or Indian oceans.

The judging panel for the finals will include master sommelier Ronan Sayburn of the UK, who heads the wine division of the Dorchester Collection UK; Totte Steneby, a former winner of both the Swedish and the Nordic Sommelier Championships and a Decanter World Wine Awards judge; Neil Grant, chairman of the South African Sommelier Association (SASA); Higgo Jacobs, a taster for Platter's South African Wine Guide and member of SASA; and Jörg Pfützner, also a taster for Platter's South African Wine Guide, SASA member and consulting wine editor for international luxury lifestyle publication G&W.

For more details go to www.wosasommeliercup.co.za. For current updates follow #sommcup via Twitter.