The purpose of the Championship was to offer all the chance to put their taste to the test, with the Top 10 tasters came from various backgrounds, including a wine journalist, wine traders, sommeliers and passionate amateurs. Close to one hundred competitors registered on the day. Gauteng wine lovers participated in a blind tasting challenge to recognise 7 wines served blind, including an international wine making, it more challenging to the local palates. Served in anonymous decanters were wines from some of the most innovative South African wineries present at the Juliet Cullinan Wine Festival. It goes without saying that it was a difficult task: finding out which wine was what requires a sharp nose, a precise palate and an incredible memory. The overall Gauteng winner, Ricardo Gouveia qualified for the national finale in September 2015 to try and win his seat in Team South Africa. The remaining 9 Gauteng champions will have to wait for the scores from the other provincial championships held in the Cape on the 27th of June and in Durban at the end of August to see if they have a place in the finale when Team South Africa will be selected through a blind tasting of international wines. The top 10 Gauteng tasters for 2015 are: Ricardo Gouveia – Winner in Gauteng 2015Lizé Oosthuizen – 2nd in Gauteng 2015 - Top 5 national in 2014Janita Botha – 3rd in Gauteng 2015Veronica Plaatjies – Best Gauteng performer for the Mosaic Restaurant Protégé ProgrammeChris Groenewald – Team South Africa 2014Consley CookeDean EhrlichChristine AndrewsAngie JovancicManuella Morini The Mosaic bursary for a Protégé will offer a young emerging professional 3 years fully paid internship at Restaurant Mosaic, working alongside Chef of the Year Chantel Dartnall and sommelier Germain Lehodey. Preselected at the SAWTC, the Protégé selected by Mosaic Restaurant will receive the necessary formal education required to achieve the best professional knowledge, whilst gaining the necessary exposure to the industry and being mentored by the most experience South African sommelier. Last but not least, the Protégé selected by Mosaic will have a seat in Team South Africa and will fly the national colours in France at the World Blind Challenge in October 2015. Veronica Plaatjies is now one step closer to this dream, and will receive a complimentary registration to the South African Sommelier Association before the last round of selection in September. The wineries supporting the SAWTC Gauteng 2015 were Oneiric, Taillard, Sijnn, Vilafonté, Steenberg, Warwick, Jordan, Oldenburg, Peter Falke, Kaapzicht, Almenkerk, Creation, Ken Forrester, Springfield, Iona, Raka and Aaldering. For more info: visit www.sawtc.co.za SAWTC – Jean Vincent RIDON T +2721 4225206 C +27 83 6750280 sawtc2015@gmail.com The South African Wine Tasting Championship is proud to continue having www.wine.co.za as it media partner.