THE world’s best sommeliers will gather in South Africa this week when they take part in the WOSA 2010 Sommelier World Cup finals to be hosted by the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl this weekend.
The 12 finalists from around the world, will be hosted for a week-long tour of the winelands, visiting some of the Cape’s most prestigious wineries.
The eight month long competition (which has held heats world-wide) will culminate with the final on 16 October at the Grande Roche Hotel and Restaurant, where all sommeliers will be put through their paces by an esteemed panel of judges.
“We are very excited to host the Sommelier World Cup on our shores for the first time. We will be working with the world’s best sommeliers, while they get to taste our wines which are some of the world’s best kept secrets,” says WOSA CEO Su Birch.
Apart from meeting and tasting with some of South Africa’s award-winning winemakers, the finalists will also be dining in some of South Africa’s iconic restaurants and exploring the wonderfully diverse cuisine on offer, including Grande Roche’s acclaimed Bosman’s Restaurant.
“As an establishment which prides itself on stocking the best selection of top class wines in South Africa we are delighted to welcome this prestigious group of international wine experts to the Grande Roche,” says general manager Gawie Marx.
Having just appointed one of only a handful of accredited sommeliers in South Africa, Josephine Gutentoft, Bosman’s has also been awarded the Best of Award of Excellence 2010 by Wine Spectator for having one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world and as joint best wine list in South Africa by the recent Diners Club Wine list Awards.
