SAA announces 2005 on-board wine listing

Tuesday, 9 November, 2004
SAA
South African Airways (SAA) continues its commitment to the support and promotion of South African wines on board all flights and as such remains Proudly South African.

This commitment exposes 6.5 million local and international passengers annually to a wide selection of the best South African wines.

Cape wine producers for the SAA Wine Selection this year submitted a record entry of 1140 wines. A panel of 12 local and international experts wine judges selected the finalists during a three-day blind tasting, which took place in August.

Local judges included Dave Hughes, Allan Mullins, Tony Mossop, Yegas Naidoo, as well as the new faces of winemaking, Mzokhona Mvemve and Carmen Stevens - a positive reflection of the transformation taking place in the industry.

International judges included world class winemakers, leading journalists and sommeliers; Steven Spurrier, Lynne Sheriff, Geoff Merrill, Egon Muller, Annegret Re-Gartner and Joelle Marti-Baron.

SAA's R18m support of the wine industry for 2005 will once again include the provision of exposure to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) wineries and initiatives in the form of the on-board promotion of their wines. The airline has contributed a substantial R200 000 to the South African Wine Trust Fund to assist previously disadvantaged wine students thanks to the entry fees from each producer.

The SAA Wine Awards has a proud 19-year old history with this year's prestigious category of winners as follows:

SAA Red Wine Trophy: Glen Carlou Syrah 2003
SAA White Wine Trophy: Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2004
SAA Port Trophy: Landskroon Port 2000
SAA Méthode Cap Classique Trophy: Pongrazc N/V
SAA CEO Award For Best Performance: L'Avenier
SAA Chairman Award For Highest Volume Sold to SAA: Origin Wine