Mpho Masiu is only 21 years old and will be
competing as Cape Grace’s Wine Candidate in the 2015 Inter Hotel Challenge. The
annual Cape Legends Inter Hotel Challenge is now in its third year with 25
hotels from the Cape, Port Elizabeth and KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng on board. Mpho
is exceptionally excited to participate in the Challenge and forge new
relationships with upcoming sommeliers and established wine masters.
Mpho hails from Welkom in the Free State and joined the Cape Grace family after completing the Advanced Wine course with the Cape Wine Academy in the Eastern Cape. Whilst she occasionally misses her home town, she loves the exposure and experience that Cape Town has given her. In addition, she also loves the hustle and bustle of the city and is inspired by the work ethic of the residents.
As there are not many female wine
sommeliers, she intends to establish herself in the industry in that regard, or
perhaps, as a future Wine Master. In addition, she also hopes to influence and
change the way that people think about wine, particularly in South Africa.
Whilst she has really come to appreciate Chardonnay, she admits that she is
still becoming accustomed to the reds, with Pinot Noir and Shiraz being among
her top choices.
Mpho loves the diversity of the hospitality
industry. The fact that it grants employees the opportunity to interact with
people from all over the world and learn about different cultures and languages
fuels her passion! Despite her interest in different nationalities, her love
for South Africa is deeply entrenched in her heart, particularly the country’s
delicious, traditional cuisine. Whilst she enjoys the different tastes presented in food and wine pairings, her favourite dish remains to
be Malamokgodu (intestines) and samp.
Although Mpho loves socialising, she also appreciates time alone. When she is not working, she enjoys taking the time to reflect on her goals, thinking about what she wants to do in the future. Mpho reflects all of the values of the Cape Grace Hotel; gratitude, respect, abundance, care and excellence and Cape Grace are proud to see her represent the brand this year.