In a thrilling competition held on Sunday (3 September 2023), 16 of South Africa's finest blind wine tasters vied for the opportunity to represent Team South Africa at the 2023 World Blind Wine Tasting Championships in France this October. Notably, former Team South Africa captain, Chris Groenewald, who led the team in 2021, emerged as the leader for this year's team.
Using innovative Vinitube technology, the 16 South African wine tasters who excelled at the South African Wine Tasting Championships (SAWTC) faced the challenge of identifying ten wines from various corners of the globe. Their only hint was that there were multiple wines from France and South Africa. All the imported wines came courtesy of Radford Dale Imports, while the South African wines represented top-quality selections that are available worldwide.
Contestants, hailing from locations spanning Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape, had to identify wines served blindly from identical bottles, regardless of their location or participation mode (Zoom or in-person). Each participant was granted a mere 4 minutes to identify each wine, earning 10 points for correctly identifying the grape variety, 5 points for the country of origin, 5 points for the appellation, 3 points for the vintage, and 2 points for the producer.
In a remarkable feat, Chris Groenewald secured the highest score, surpassing competitors Gareth Robertson and Heidi Kritzinger on the podium.
The wines they had to identify included:
- Albariño – Spain – Rias Baixas – 2020 – Terras Gauda
- Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand – Marlborough – 2021 – Greywacke
- Viognier – France – Condrieu – 2018 – Cuilleron
- Chenin – South Africa – Stellenbosch – 2022 – Ken Forrester
- Chardonnay – USA – Napa Valley – 2018 – Arnot Roberts
- Blaufränkisch – Austria – Leithaberg DAC – 2018 – Heinrich
- Grenache Noir – South Africa – Piekenierskloof – 2018 – Sadie Family Wines
- Malbec – France – Cahors – 2016 – Chateau de Chambert
- Cabernet Franc – France – Saumur Champigny – 2020 – Domaine des Roches Neuves
- Shiraz – Australia – Barossa – 2021 – Yalumba
As a result of his victory, Chris Groenewald has earned his place at the world championship, which will be organised by La Revue du vin de France at Chateau Sainte Roseline in Provence on 14 October. He will be accompanied by Sharrol Mukendi-Klaas, the recipient of the Gerard Basset Foundation/ASI Scholarship, who will serve as a substitute for the team.
While the budget for Team South Africa remains pending, the final team composition will be announced in the coming days once the sponsorship drive concludes.
Team South Africa must consist of a minimum of three tasters but can include up to four competitors, a coach, and substitutes.
wine.co.za is proud to be Team SA's trusted media partner for 2023. Keep your eyes on the SAWTC Spotlight Page for more information.