The South African Wine Tasting Championships 2015 is making its KZN stop at this year’s Mercury Wine Week. Open to all wine lovers, KZN residents are invited to test their taste ability in order to qualify for the national championships in September. Four winners from the national round will head to France for a shot at the ultimate accolade – the world’s best wine tasting team! The KZN leg will be held for one day only on August 29, between 12 and 3pm at the Mercury Wine Week. In the spirit of ongoing education, and in an attempt to encourage new converts into the closed circle that is the wine world, the SAWTC 2015 will allow all wine lovers the opportunity to put their talents to the test. These four steps stand between you and being recognised as a champion wine taster:1 - Taste 30 wines from a selection presented by the best South African wineries at the Mercury Wine Week.2 - Enter the blind tasting competition and recognize 7 wines served blind.3 - Secure one of the highest scores and become one of the top 14 national tasters from around South Africa, alongside the best from Cape Town and Johanneburg.4 - These top 14 competitors will be invited to the national finale on the 13th of September 2015, at the Taj Hotel Cape Town where the South African team of four will be selected to compete in the World Championship in Chateauneuf du Pape (France) on the October 17, 2015. The competition opens on August 29, starting at 12:00 noon and ending at 15:00. Cost to enter is just R20 and is open to all over 18 years old. The fee will be donated to the Hibberdene Childrens Home. The full tasting experience should take approximately 2 hours to complete but all competitors can do the experience at their own pace. Whether you’re a wine lover or wine maker, sommelier or amateur, or just willing to evaluate your palate, diarise the 29th and join the best wine tasters from our country. The Durban Provincial leg is also the last chance for a young emerging wine professional to qualify for the Restaurant Mosaic Protégé Program, offering a three years bursary and a position in the most prestigious restaurant of South Africa to a highly motivated individual who wants to become the best sommelier of Africa! Candidates must be under 30 years old, willing to travel the world, and wanting to work under the mentorship of Chef of the Year Chantel Dartnall, and world famous sommelier Germain Lehodey. These candidates can contact us directly on sawtc2015@gmail.com for terms and conditions. More details on www.sawtc.co.za or on the facebook page of the South African Wine Tasting Championships. The South African Wine Tasting Championships and Team South Africa are proud to team with our media partner wine.co.za