Thembani Wesley Mpande holds the title of Best Young Sommelier of South Africa after winning the Champagne Telmont Best Young Sommelier of South Africa competition on 4 October 2022. He is an ex-professional athlete who fell in love with the world of wine. Nowadays, he's an assistant sommelier at Marble Restaurant in Johannesburg, where he has been working for three years. Before that, he was a junior sommelier at Saint Restaurant. Surprisingly, Thembani has been in the industry for only four years! Get to know Thembani:
What inspired you to become a sommelier?
I only got introduced to wine four years ago. Before that, I never even really knew what a sommelier was. But without realising it, the profession alone brings together everything I love.
As I started to learn about being a sommelier, the passion grew and it’s still growing. I’m grateful I had amazing mentors who helped me on this path. It wasn’t easy for me at first, but I kept pushing myself and studied hard.
The lockdown in 2020 actually helped me, as I managed to study a lot on the internet. By the time lockdown was over, I was ready mentally and my basic knowledge of wine was better.
Prior to this competition, what was one of the proudest moments in your sommelier journey?
Passing the Court of Master Sommeliers's Introductory Sommelier Course a week before the Best Young Sommelier of SA competition. It wasn’t an easy examination, so I was so happy when I passed it. Now I am getting ready for the Certified Sommelier Examination which I will do next year.
What's it like to work at Marble Restaurant?
I really enjoy working at Marble Restaurant. For a sommelier wanting to grow, it's the best restaurant in South Africa. It’s always busy, which means we get lots of guests asking questions about wine and wine pairing. As a sommelier, I enjoy the challenge, and I love sharing my passion and knowledge with other wine enthusiasts.
What is your favourite wine?
The 2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti... I managed to get about six cases of it. [Six cases of 2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was just one of the amazing prizes Thembani received after winning the Best Young Sommelier competition!] Jokes, I do enjoy reds and whites from Burgundy, but let’s keep it local.
My favourite at the moment is the 2015 or 2018 vintage of Keet First Verse, and also the 2019 Damascene Cabernet Sauvignon.
What tips do you have for people interested in working as a sommelier?
It’s the best job in the wine industry. I mean, you get to drink on the job, for starters! My advice is to be confident yet humble, and always be a team player.