Following an extensive recruitment drive in key markets, the selected sommeliers will attend this exciting, week-long event, experiencing some of South Africa’s magnificent wine regions, visiting top wineries, and taking part in engaging master classes hosted by industry representatives, according to Wines of South Africa (WOSA). 

A Press Release published by Wine Industry Advisor directed at their most important US market, names Nicole Cheon, Sommelier at Nine Orchard in New York City; Morgan LaCroix, Wine Director and Lead Sommelier at Twin Farms in Barnard, Vermont; and Melissa McAvoy, Owner of Swirlery Wine Bar in Orlando, Florida, participating in the Symposium.

WOSA USA Country Manager, Jim Clarke says, “We’re excited about this participation. South Africa has so much to offer for the US market, and being part of the Symposium will give them an interactive, immersive opportunity to learn more about the country’s excellent wines and unique regions – experience and knowledge they’ll be able to share with their customers and colleagues upon their return home.”

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The objective of the Sommelier Symposium is to educate sommeliers on the diversity and uniqueness of South Africa’s terroir and the different  styles and grape varieties it produces, as well as highlighting the country’s high level of wine quality and outstanding wine tourism offerings. 

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Participants will visit the major wine regions of South Africa, with time spent on guided tastings, winery visits, and vineyard tours. Some of the events and activities include:

• A master class and tasting with the Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective
• Vineyard visits in the Swartland with Adi Badenhorst, the Mullineuxs, and other local producers
• A Cap Classique master class with “Mr. Bubbles”, Pieter Ferreira of Graham Beck
• A trip down the coast to Hemel-en-Aarde to explore the cool climate of South Africa with time for whale watching
• A seafood dinner with the Cape Agulhas Triangle producers
• Time to explore Cape Town’s dining and drinking scene

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Included in their itinerary at #SommelierSymposium2023 are thus, visits to regions such as Stellenbosch, Constantia, the Swartland, Franschhoek, Paarl, Elgin, and the Hemel-en-Aarde. Master classes will be hosted by members of the Cap Classique Association, the Chenin Blanc Association, the Chardonnay Forum, the Old Vines Project, and the Pinotage Association, among others. 

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The week ends on a high note as the delegates get the opportunity to mingle with local sommeliers at a dinner event hosted at Hazendal Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. WOSA is working in partnership with the Sommelier Association of South Africa (SASA), in the evening where they will also announce the SASA Sommelier of the Year.

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Nevertheless, the wines are imported by my importers and have created a flourishing market for their labels. The ubiquitous Two Oceans and Nederberg imported by one of the leading importers- Aspri Spirits and Wines, have been very popular in the low-mid range, says Arun Kumar, the Director of Aspri. Wines from Indian billionaire-turned- wine producer and hospitality Bhai Analjit Singh, partner of award-winning Mullineux and Franschhoek Winery Leeu Passant and imported by Hema Connoisseur, are also available for select connoisseurs at select venues. Vishal Kadakia of The Wine Park is a fan of South African wines and represents 7 wineries including Boekenhoutskloofon top of his list; The Chocolate Block Blend containing 74% of Syrah is perhaps one of the best value for money wines retails at around Rs. 7000.

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Noida based Kwena Global imported and launched a range of UJVA wines from South Africa at Vinexpo India in Delhi last December. Jayam Gupta, the owner of Kwena is very pleased with the response and is focusing on those 4 UJVA labels for now.

Apparently, sommeliers from India have not been invited. This could be a mistake since South African wines have been popular with Indian drinkers and need to be promoted regularly. South Africa has been an increasingly popular destination for Indian travelers fond of wines and safari parks. They enjoy South African wines when they visit South Africa.

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Apart from our historical bonding, thanks to Mahatma Gandhi and membership of South Africa in BRICS since 2010 (powerful grouping of the world’s leading emerging market economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are important reasons for the two countries to work together in wines once again. The diverse Terroir of South Africa, and more affordable wine prices, make it a win-win for both the exporters and Indian consumers with a good palate- it just needs proper promotion and the #SommelierSymposium2023 would have been just the right platform.

Nevertheless, the 37,000 readers of delWine in 77 countries are invited to visit their website https://www.wosa.co.za/home/  and hopefully, there would be interesting write ups on the Symposium.

Also check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WinesOfSouthAfrica in future postings relating to the Symposium.

Platter’s Associate Editor and current Chair of the Institute of Masters of Wine, Cathy van Zyl MW, said she welcomed the news that as many as 32 international sommeliers will visit the Cape’s Winelands during WOSA’s first-ever Sommelier Symposium.

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“South Africa’s wine industry has made such great progress on so many levels in recent years. We’ve always had world-class researchers, viticulturists, winemakers and wines but today, instead of a handful, we have many, many, many more and we’ve added marketers, wine tourism destinations, educators and so on to the mix.

“It’s always exciting to talk about South African wine, but – to be blunt – it is an easier sell when your audience is in situ and able to experience what we have to offer surrounded by the Cape’s beauty and by talking to its passionate and talented industry participants. We all know that our ZAR doesn’t stretch very far when it comes to doing business in international markets; WOSA’s strategy here is a sound one and I hope their Sommelier Symposium becomes an annual event and grows each year.”

Van Zyl, together with the other South African-based Master of Wine, Richard Kershaw MW, is putting together a programme for 46 MWs who will be visiting the winelands in November. “I’m very excited about this MW trip,” she said. “I wanted the first big MW trip post-Covid – in terms of numbers of MWs – to be to South Africa and its winelands. I wanted to take the high ground, to be the first back to market and, with support from the regional bodies, we’re well on the way to doing that.”

Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is a not-for-profit organization which promotes the export of all South African wine in key international markets. Apart from the head office in Stellenbosch, South Africa, it also has offices in Johannesburg, England, Canada, USA, Sweden, China, The Netherlands and Germany. It was very active in India around 15 years ago. Being ahead of its times, it invested a lot in India but gave up when the time to reap the benefits got closer.

Subhash Arora