At the Champagne Telmont Best Young Sommelier of South Africa competition on 4 October 2022, Stefan Reinmuth took third place after competing in front of 50 wine and restaurant industry professionals.
Stefan is currently the head sommelier at Oldenburg Vineyards in Stellenbosch, where he has been working since February 2019. Here, he and his team are working passionately to deliver the best tasting room experience in South Africa.
What inspired you to become a sommelier?
When I turned 18, I started working holiday jobs at wine estates while pursuing my degree in drama. I worked as a tasting room ambassador at Delaire Graff and Allée Bleue Estate, and then I finally settled at Ernie Els Wines for a good three and a half years. At the time wine wasn’t my go-to drink and it took me some time to warm up to the taste. Being in the heart of the Golden Triangle, though, I quickly developed a taste for big and bold blends.
After I did my postgraduate diploma in marketing at Stellenbosch University, I decided to head over to Germany to try my luck on the stage there. I had a somewhat successful run, but decided acting wasn’t really my thing. So, I settled in the town of Cologne where I worked in the wine and spirits department of one of Germany’s largest retailers for close to four years.
While I was there the wine bug bit me for real and I decided to learn a bit more about wine. Here’s the thing about knowledge though… It’s a rabbit hole. I did my WSET Level 2 and thoroughly enjoyed it. But I still had many questions. So, on to Level 3 I went, and completed that in early 2019. I really did think that would answer all my questions, but it just created more. This is why I’m fortunate to be finishing my WSET Level 4 diploma soon, if all goes well. I'm sure there will be even more questions to follow, but one thing after another.
One evening Esmé Groenewald, previous deputy of South African Sommeliers Association (SASA), challenged me to get my SASA certifications. And the rest is history. I now have my Junior Sommelier certification and will be aiming to complete the Certified Sommelier certification by the end of the year.
Having been at Oldenburg for nearly 4 years, what's it like for you to work there?
I love the ever-changing environment and the challenge of creating the best tasting room experience in South Africa. It needs constant work and constant drive to get it right. I believe we can still hone a few additional aspects, but that’s the lovely thing about a work in progress.
What's been one of the biggest changes in the local wine industry since you started your career?
A much greater focus on wine ambassadors with certifications to back it up. It’s fantastic for me to see the efforts of SASA, the sommeliering schools, and the PYDA (Pinotage Youth Development Academy) creating wine professionals that understand more and more about wine and creating experiences for South Africans and international guests that can rival some of the best wine tourism destinations in the world.
What's a passion of yours within the wine industry?
I love seeing people pursue knowledge. Whether that be youngsters just starting their journey in wine or consumers who have their first lightbulb moment when it comes to wine. I love seeing those lightbulb moments and, if possible, I love to get them to those moments.