Team South Africa proudly represented the nation at the prestigious World Blind Wine Tasting Championship, held at Chateau Dauzac in Margaux, France, on Saturday, 12 October 2024. The event, organised by La Revue du Vin de France, featured 39 countries competing in a highly contested challenge over 12 wines from around the world.
The South African team, selected after an intense national competition, consisted of Chris Groenewald (team captain), Danielle Le Roux CWM, Bernard de Boer, and Wim Truter. Their participation highlights the skill and passion for wine in South Africa, aiming to place the country's name among the top wine connoisseurs in the world.
South Africa started strong by identifying the first wine accurately, a Corpinnat from Penedes based on Xarel Lo grapes, but some key selections proved to be more challenging, pushing the team into uncharted territories. Global warming has affected wine styles across regions, making it harder for tasters to rely on traditional benchmarks. The changing climate continues to redefine the landscape, adding complexity to international competitions like this world blind tasting championship.
While South Africa earned an honorable score, the high level of competition from teams like Italy (this year's champions), Taiwan, and Switzerland made it difficult to secure a top spot. However, Team South Africa remains optimistic and is already looking forward to next year’s championship in Jura, France.
Coach Jean Vincent Ridon expressed his pride in the team, which prepared with an intensive tour through France and Spain. He emphasized the difficulty of accessing international wines in South Africa due to budget constraints. "Training for this competition requires significant resources, and we hope to secure partners for next year who can support a broader educational initiative. We aim to expand the pool of talented tasters in South Africa, encouraging diversity and fostering emerging talent," said Ridon.
On a lighter note, while this year’s competition threw surprises, it’s worth noting that South Africa has historically triumphed over Italy in 9 out of 11 encounters. This year, Team SA also outperformed France, a three-time world champion, and Hungary, the 2021 world champion. Nevertheless, following Pierre de Coubertin's motto, participation is more important than winning. Being there made South Africa relevant in a highly competitive wine world.
At the 2024 World Blind Wine Tasting Championship, South Africa ranked 26th out of 39 nations with 91 points.
Team South Africa would like to thank its supporters which made this adventure possible: Amorim Cork South Africa has been a long time partner understanding the value for the local wine industry to be behind its ambassadors at this global event; Sommeliers Academy supplied the wine tasting support and logistics; Air France-KLM made the most comfortable direct flight available; and wine.co.za is our long-term media partner.
Here is the list of wines served at the 2024 World Blind Wine Tasting Championship:
- Xarel-lo (65%) and Macabeo (35%), Spain, Corpinnat, Can Descregut, 2018
- Riesling, France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim, Gustave Lorentz, 2019
- Sauvignon Blanc (90%) and Semillon (10%), New Zealand, Marlborough, Seresin Estate, 2022
- Garganega, Italy, Soave, Gini, 2020
- Riesling (late harvest), Germany, Mosel, Markus Molitor, 2018
- Gamay, France, Brouilly, Château de la Chaize, 2022
- Malbec, Argentina, Mendoza, Bodega Rolland, 2019
- Tempranillo (97%) and Merlot (3%), Spain, Ribera del Duero, Vega Sicilia, 2019
- Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) and Syrah (35%), Lebanon, Beqaa Valley, Château Kefraya, 2019
- Nebbiolio, Italy, Barolo, Giacomo Borgogno, 2020
- Mourvedre (95%) and Grenache (5%), France, Bandol, Domaine de La Bégude, 2006
- Savagnin, France, Côtes du Jura, Domaine Sainte-Marie, 2011
This diverse selection of wines tested the skills of participants from around the world, challenging them to identify a range of grape varieties and regions.
For more information, including details on the winners and top-performing teams, visit the official La Revue du Vin de France website: www.larvf.com.