Who will be in Nederburg Team South Africa 2018?

Thursday, 28 June, 2018
Jean Vincent Ridon
After two provincial championships, one at the Taj Hotel in Capetown and the other at the Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Wine Festival in Johannesburg, the best wine tasters from all around the country will meet this Sunday to decide who will join Nederburg Team South Africa 2018.

This Sunday at the luxurious Taj Hotel in Cape Town, the aspiring champions will face 12 wines from all around the world, and they will have to identify the cultivar, the country, the appellation, the vintage and the producer. The 4 highest scoring competitors will qualify for Nederburg Team South Africa that will travel to France on the 13th of October 2018. The 5th best scoring competitor will be the substitute for the Team and may travel to France as well, but would only compete if one of the top 4 is not fit to taste.

In Languedoc, close to Bezier, Nederburg Team South Africa will face 26 other countries to try to dethrone Sweden, the current world champion.  The World Blind Tasting Championship is organised by La Revue du Vin de France, the leading French wine magazine. South Africa has qualified since 2013, and Nederburg Team South Africa will be the 6th National team to compete for the world title.

After a successful participation last year when Team SA 2017 ranked 14th, Nederburg decided to support our national team on its journey toward the world championship.

Nederburg declared: "Nederburg is extremely excited to be an integral part of the SA Wine Tasting Team's journey to the World Championships. We see the partnership as a collaboration, assisting to further drive the RSA wine category forward, as well as develop our future talent within the industry. Our involvement in Nederburg Team SA 2018 reinforces that Nederburg is truly part of South Africa's wine DNA. We wish the team all the very best in their preparation. Bring the Cup home! "

On Sunday, the finalists will be facing the same conditions as in France, 12 wines, 10 minutes per wine, no clue, no help.

The 2018 finalists are:

Jolette Steyn, Lerato Moleleko, Heidi Kritzinger, Brian Nhlanhla Mahlangu, Tom Prior, Anita Streicher Nel, Nkululeko Mkhwanazi, Anton Swarts, Cyril Meidinger, Anusha Lalloo, Kevin Crause, Ralph Reynolds, Riana van der Merwe, Welma Smith, Pieter de Klerk.

A few potential candidates are on standby in case some finalists cannot make the finals at the Cape Town Taj on Sunday 1st of July at 11:00 am.

Nederburg Team South Africa 2018 will be announced on Monday by our official media partner wine.co.za.
Keep up with all the news and pics on the wine.co.za SAWTC Spotlight page

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TeamSA2017: Jean Vincent Ridon, Jolette Steyn, Anita Streicher Nel (Captain), Annemarie Marks (Nederburg), Anton Swarts, Jeanri-Tine van Zyl & Heinrich Kulsen (Nederburg)