Team SA is comprised of 2 winemakers; Anton Swarts CWM (Spier), Jolette Steyn (Steenberg), 1 marketer; Captain Anita Streicher-Nel (Anthonij Rupert Wyne) and 1 PR Consultant, Jeanri-Tine van Zyl (Feedthatbird), with the reserve Nkululeko Mkhwanazi waiting with baited breath in the wings.
Recently appointed as Sales & Marketing Assistant at the beautiful Anthonij Rupert Wyne in Franschhoek, Anita’s career spans nearly two decades holding various wine positions at reputable wine farms around the Boland i.e JC Le Roux, Fairview, Hidden Valley and Morgenhof Wines.
Having completed a BA Degree majoring in Linguistics and German, and numerous wine courses, Anita started her career off as a casual at the Bergkelder, presenting wine tours after which she spread her wings to travel and work in the UK and learn more about wine. It is here where she developed her fine palate and judged at competitions like the International Wine Challenge. It is also here where she cultivated lasting “wine” relationships. A WSET qualification followed, after which she returned home to complete a National Diploma in Marketing.
Currently in this competition for the third year running and proudly captaining Team SA 2017 she likes to call herself a sophisticated wine “enthusiast”, but it really is her mother whose description of “Springbok Wine Taster” brings a smile to her face!
Anita's favourite wine is Riesling from Germany, but that she loves a good old Chenin from SA!
Anita is the 2017 National Champion at the SAWTC, and she is the Team's most experienced member. Go Captain Anita, make South Africa Proud!
Jeanri-Tine van Zyl, Anita Streicher-Nel, Anton Swarts & Jolette Steyn
We wish Team South Africa and their fellow African Team Zimbabwe all the best next week at the World Blind Wine Tasting Championships, organised by French Monthly Wine magazine Le Revue du Vin de France, described by wine fundi Jancis Robinson as "France's only serious wine magazine.
Both teams will be chaperoned on a whistle-stop tour of France by inimitable French coach Jean Vincent Ridon, who has single-handedly founded and driven this competition since its inception in 2014. It is great to see Nederburg assisting the team this year with sponsorship, as well as Amorim, Spier and of course wine.co.za, who have supported the team since the very first year.
The current World Champions are China, so they are keen to take them on head-on this year. Both teams have had plenty of training with the energetic and dedicated JV Ridon and I am sure they will shine on the day.