While the world of sommeliers is facing a standstill due to the covid 19 pandemic, forcing major events such as the ASI Best Sommelier of Europe & Africa to be postponed until November 2021, Jean Vincent Ridon from Sommeliers Academy explored a new way to organise an international competition.
As the new Sommeliers Association of Zimbabwe had to run a competition to select the Zimbabwean sommelier who will represent the country at the ASI continental contest in Cyprus, they took the opportunity to run their inaugural Best Sommelier of Zimbabwe contest. After a first round attracting 18 candidates, the three finalists happened to be all working in South Africa.
Since SASA decided not to host a Best Sommelier of South Africa in 2020, it was a great opportunity to invite the best 3 South African sommeliers and to run the first international sommelier contest in Africa with a derby between the two neighbouring countries.
The Stellenbosch Wine Routes Ubuntu Sommelier Trophy was hosted at the magnificent Stellenbosch Estate Lanzerac, making both countries compete against each other as national teams.
Flying in international judges was impossible so it was decided to stream the contest online and have the tasks marked by experienced sommeliers from around the world. This innovative format is not only a world premiere but the only answer to the current restriction to have a jury of the highest calibre.
The Jury was composed of Michèle Chantôme, ASI Vice President and president of the Sommeliers of Morocco, Giuseppe Vaccarini, former ASI Best Sommelier of the World and President of the ASPI, the professional sommeliers association of Italy, Julie Dupouy-Young, ASI Board Member and Chairwoman of the sommeliers guild of Ireland, as well as bronze medalist at the best sommelier of the world 2016, and Jeff Thomé, Best Sommelier of Mauritius 2016.
The local relay was organised by sommelier Jean Vincent Ridon as the Master of Ceremonies, Carey-Ann Brown - Chairperson of the Sommeliers Association of Zimbabwe, Spencer Fondaumiere Vice Chairman of SASA, Kim Williams and Neil Tabraham from Sommeliers Academy. Logistics were supported by SAZ volunteer sommeliers Admire Wakwa and Munashe Kwaramba.
Joseph Dhafana, Job Jovo, Carey-Ann Brown & Tawanda Marume
The contest was streamed on Facebook live and sommeliers from around the world were following this unique competition on their phones or computers.
The Best Sommelier of Zimbabwe 2020 title was won by Tawanda Marume, ahead of Job Jovo and Joseph Dhafana.
The best South African contestant was Laurie Cooper who is the current Best Young Sommelier of South Africa. She had the best score from the 6 finalists.
Team Zimbabwe with Tawanda, Job and Joseph won the Stellenbosch Wine Routes Ubuntu Sommelier Trophy, beating Team South Africa which was composed of Laurie Cooper, Tayla Kirschner and LeRoi van de Vyver.
They received great prizes sponsored by the Stellenbosch Wine Routes, LAPD wine distributor, Great Domaines, Reciprocal Wines, Coravin, Riedel, Creation Wines, Distell, the SA Brandy Foundation, Richard Kershaw wines, Klein Constantia and Sommeliers Academy.
The two teams were hosted for a celebratory dinner organised by the Stellenbosch Wine Routes after a congratulatory speech from their CEO, Mike Ratcliffe. Delheim, Simonsig, Lanzerac, Alto and Ernie Els wineries were sharing their best wines with the competing sommeliers.
Tawanda Marume will represent Zimbabwe at the ASI Best Sommelier of Europe & Africa in Cyprus in November 2021.
Congratulations to the six finalists for showing the rest of the world the quality and talent of African sommeliers.
The contest can be watched on Facebook @Zimsomms