A massive thank you to all our incredible community members, supporters and donors who helped us reach our goal of R60,000 to send Armand Ridgard to Portugal!
The funds raised through our Road to Lisbon campaign will directly contribute towards travel, accommodation and intensive training expenses, helping Armand compete against some of the world's finest sommeliers.
A special thank you goes to Vinimark and the Chenin Blanc Association for their generous contributions through the Ina Smith Bursary, along with artist Sumi Gous, who donated proceeds from sales of her #drinkchenin artworks to the bursary.
And last but certainly not least, thank you to every single person who contributed to our BackaBuddy campaign. Every donation, no matter the size, helped us reach this important milestone. We could not have done it without you!
The successful campaign demonstrates the incredible support within South Africa's wine and hospitality community and the shared commitment to developing local sommelier talent. International competitions such as these provide an invaluable opportunity to showcase South African expertise, gain global exposure and inspire the next generation of wine professionals.
Follow Armand's journey in Lisbon (11–17 October 2026)
Armand joins representatives from 66 countries at the 18th edition of the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World, organised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and hosted by the Associação dos Escanções de Portugal.
The competition tests candidates across a range of disciplines, including blind tasting, theoretical wine knowledge, food and beverage pairing, and practical service under pressure.
As Armand represents South Africa on the global stage, we encourage our community to follow his progress and show their support throughout the competition.
Key competition dates:
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11 October: Candidate arrival and orientation
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12–13 October: Quarterfinals – blind tasting, theory and practical service
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14 October: Announcement of semifinalists
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15 October: Semifinals
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16 October: Grand Final and winner announcement
Follow our social media pages for updates from Lisbon, and show your support on ASI's official channels (@asisomms_). Wave the South African flag in the comments and help us cheer Armand on!
The Grand Final will be streamed live on Friday, 16 October 2026, at 15:00 (South African time). Watch the competition live on YouTube and cheer on the world's leading sommeliers.
Once again, thank you to everyone who made this journey possible. South Africa is behind you, Armand!