WOSA Sommelier Cup winners announced

Marc Almert from Germany is the winner of the 2016 Wines of South Africa International Sommelier Cup with Joe Yang of Macau and Nathan Morrell of Canada tying for second place.

Marc Almert, centre, with Joe Yang and Nathan Morrell

The top three finalists were amongst the group of eight contestants from the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, the US and Kenya who were flown to the Cape Winelands for the competition on Friday, 23 September.

Held every three years, the Sommelier Cup aims to highlight South Africa’s hospitality industry globally and champion its historic winemaking regions.

Higgo Jacobs, chairman of the South African Sommeliers’ Association and one of the judges, said: “It has been tremendously exciting to see how international interest in South African wines has exploded. The prize of a trip to the Cape for the semi-finalists is a huge drawcard and really incentivises everyone who enters to get to know South African wines well.

“It’s a brilliant way of raising awareness of the South African category. For the top performers who make the trip here, it’s an opportunity to network with South Africa’s leading winemakers and to meet local sommeliers and exchange views, news and ideas with them.”

The 2016 winner was 25 year-old Marc Almert, who is the sommelier at the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg and has already won a string of several other sommelier contests in Germany. Almert  wins a week-long stay in South Africa, touring different vineyards and meeting the winemakers.

Joe Yang from Studio City in Macau and Nathan Morrell from Canada also came joint second place.

The South African Consul General, George Monyemangene congratulated Almert by saying: “Today is a very special day – it is the birthday of Nelson Mandela. Today we honour his life’s work and his personal commitment for a better future for all South Africans. Your commitment has shown our country great honour.”

This year’s hosting of the cup comes as South Africa is surging ahead in several key markets. While the year-on-year rand per litre price for bottled wines increased by 13% in the UK for the 12 months to August, it rose by 19% for the same period in Germany and Canada and 32% in the Netherlands. In the US, Nielsen data show that for the 52-week period ending July 16, 2016, the value of South African wines sold had also climbed by 25%.

Will Predhomme, who won the Sommelier Cup in 2013, and was one of the judges this year said: “When I visited the Cape three years ago to take part in the finals, everything I experienced exceeded my expectations.

“What I encountered was history meeting innovation head on. It is such a dynamic, rapidly progressing and exciting industry. There are no legislative roadblocks to impede innovation. Back in 2013 it was a real privilege to have been exposed first hand to South African wines on the cusp of their discovery by a wider global audience. I have been back since and now even make wines in partnership with a South African winery, as a result of that initial visit.”