Introductory Sommelier Programme students with South African Sommeliers Association members.
For three days, Johannesburg became the meeting point of global wine education and South African hospitality as the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) came to South Africa from 6-8 September 2026, with Chenin Noir hosting the internationally recognised programme at 54 on Bath Hotel in Rosebank.
Led by three of the world's most respected Master Sommeliers – Ronan Sayburn MS, CEO of the Court of Master Sommeliers, alongside Roberto Duran MS and Paul Fauvel MS – aspiring sommeliers undertook an intensive three-day journey that combined theory, tasting and service. The programme culminated in the Certified Sommelier Examination, offering South African hospitality professionals an opportunity to pursue one of the industry's most recognised qualifications without leaving the country.
As the sole South African licensee authorised to administer Court of Master Sommeliers examinations, Chenin Noir once again demonstrated the country's growing role in the global wine education landscape.
Making world-class wine education more accessible
For Chenin Noir CEO Xolani Mancotywa, bringing the Court of Master Sommeliers programmes to South Africa is about more than hosting an international event; it's about creating opportunities for local talent.
"It is more accessible and attainable for people in the hospitality industry who want to become sommeliers, because they then don't have all those added expenses," he said.
Those costs, which include international flights, accommodation and overseas travel, have historically placed the qualification beyond the reach of many South African hospitality professionals. Hosting the programme locally removes significant barriers while allowing candidates to learn from the same internationally accredited educators who teach around the world.
Mancotywa believes the significance extends even further. "Hosting a Court of Master Sommeliers course, a global organisation that they are, having it in South Africa really shows that, one, we have phenomenal wine; two, we have the potential to have phenomenal people on the floor selling that wine."
He continued: "In order to be recognised, we also need to become and be the best. So we have the best wine and we're trying to have the best service to match that best wine and that's why having them here and being recognised by them, and also the rest of the world for what we're doing in hospitality, is critical and crucial."
Paul Fauvel MS, Xolani Mancotywa (Chenin Noir CEO), Roberto Duran MS, and Ronan Sayburn MS (Court of Master Sommeliers CEO).
Learning beyond the classroom
While the examination remained the central focus, the experience extended well beyond the tasting room.
Throughout the three days, candidates worked through rigorous service standards, blind tasting exercises, and wine theory under the guidance of the three Master Sommeliers. The programme reflected the demanding standards for which the Court of Master Sommeliers is known globally, while remaining grounded in the realities of South Africa's hospitality industry.
The experience was strengthened by collaborations with a range of South African wine estates, whose wines formed an integral part of the educational tastings, showcasing the quality and diversity of local wine to both students and international educators.
Outside the classroom, Johannesburg's hospitality industry offered a fitting welcome. The visiting Master Sommeliers experienced some of the city's leading restaurants, witnessed one of rugby's greatest rivalries as the Springboks faced the All Blacks, and enjoyed a traditional South African spitbraai; a first-time experience that added another layer of cultural exchange to the programme.
Results that reflect growing momentum
The programme concluded with encouraging examination results that highlight both the ambition and growing capability within South Africa's sommelier community.
Twenty candidates attempted the Introductory Sommelier Examination, with seven earning the qualification:
- Nkululeko Mkhwanazi
- Sabina Sithole
- Lawrence Chakanyuka
- Constance Dube
- Benjamin Harry Fast
- Mxolisi Mahatshi
- Armand Ridgard
Four candidates progressed to the Certified Sommelier Examination, of which two successfully achieved certification:
- Nkululeko Mkhwanazi
- Spencer Fondaumiere
Perhaps most notably, the service component recorded a 100% pass rate, underscoring the strength of South Africa's hospitality professionals in one of the discipline's most demanding areas.
Building South Africa's place on the global wine stage
The return of the Court of Master Sommeliers to South Africa represents more than another successful examination cycle. It reflects the country's increasing credibility as a destination for world-class wine education and its commitment to developing professionals who can represent South African wine with confidence on the international stage.
As local sommeliers continue to gain access to globally recognised qualifications without leaving home, programmes like this help strengthen the connection between South Africa's exceptional wines and the equally exceptional service needed to present them to the world.
The journey continues next year. Chenin Noir confirms that the next Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory Course and Certified Sommelier Examination will take place in the Cape Winelands, Western Cape, from 12 to 14 September 2027. The move to South Africa's renowned wine-growing region will offer the next cohort of aspiring sommeliers the opportunity to pursue internationally recognised qualifications while learning in one of the world's most celebrated wine destinations.
Introductory and Certified Sommelier Examination graduates with Xolani Mancotywa.