Thursday, 18 January, 2018
South African Sommelier Association
The board reported on another good year to members in attendance. A fond farewell was bid to Manual Cabello as he leaves the board, followed with the announcement and welcoming of new board member, Xolani Mancotywa.
We would like to thank all SASA members for an insightful and fruitful 2017. Here's to the best of 2018!
The board portfolios for 2018 are as follows:
Higgo Jacobs - Chairperson
David Clarke - Vice-chair and Cellar master
Joakim Hansi Blackadder - Education
Spencer Fondaumiere - Treasurer and Examinations
Barry Scholfield - Website, PR and media
Tinashe Nyamudoka - Events
Xolani Mancotywa - Johannesburg chapter
Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI)
SASA is pleased to annouce that Higgo Jacobs, SASA Chairperson will be joining the ASI (Association de la Sommellerie Internationale) by-laws committee as of next year, 2018. This is an invaluable opportunity to further the industry within South Africa. Stay tuned for future developments and information.
For information:
We strongly encourage all members and sommeliers to watch the below ASI guiding video on how to prepare for the ASI standard competitions. The video is presented by Gerard Basset, MS, MW - one of the most experienced and highest regarded sommeliers of our time.
Past Events: New Wave Syrah Tasting (4 December, Stellenbosch)
SASA held the most recent tasting on the theme ¨New Wave SA Syrah¨ first in Johannesburg on 22 November at The Saxon Hotel, followed by a second ¨wave¨ on 4 December at Somm Hospitality Enterprises in the Woodmill Lifestyle Centre, Stellenbosch, following SASA’s AGM. The flights were split into two, more or less according to climate:
- Trizanne Signature Wines Reserve Syrah 2016 (Elim)
- Iona Solace Syrah 2015 (Elgin)
- Richard Kershaw Wines Clonal Selection Syrah 2012 (Elgin)
- Julien Schaal Mountain Vineyards Syrah 2016 (Walker Bay)
- Savage Wines The Girl Next Door Syrah 2015 (Cape Peninsula)
- Eagle’s Nest Shiraz 2015 (Constantia)
- Cederberg Cape Winemakers Guild Teen Die Hoog Shiraz 2015 (Cederberg)
- Waterkloof Circumstance Syrah 2016 (Stellenbosch)
- Craven The Firs Syrah 2016 (Stellenbosch)
- Dunstone Shiraz 2015 (Wellington)
- Intellego Syrah 2015 (Swartland)
- Porseleinberg Syrah 2015 (Swartland)
- Mullineux Syrah 2015 (Swartland)
- Expression Unique by De Toren the Black Lion Shiraz 2014 (Coastal)
This reflection comes on the back of the booked out tasting held at Somm on the 4th, and besides the newer takes on the grape the mix included some comparative examples of more classic nature. It was more or less a consensus across the participating tasters that the wines with retained freshness of fruit were preferred, with Julien Schaal and Savage standing out in the first flight, followed by Waterkloof and Porseleinberg in the second flight. There was a distinct shift in methods between the first and second flight were the latter was a bit more daring with the inclusion of stems in the ferment (to its advantage), possibly due to ripeness of the stems themself. The first flight was mostly fully destemmed and focused on the dark fruit profile itself, but the wood usage (or youth of the wood) was on several examples more liberal than what was perhaps needed.