Women winemakers aim for top title
2006-07-20
FIVE winemakers from diverse wine regions have made it to the finals of the SA Woman Winemaker of the Year Competition.
Sponsored by Landbouweekblad, this competition each year seeks leading women winemakers in the South African wine industry.
The finalists choosen from 33 entries, are Carla Pauw (Anura, Paarl), Erika Obermeyer (Graham Beck Wines, Franschhoek), Mary-Lou Nash (Black Pearl, Paarl), Mariska Schreuder (Bergwater, Prince Albert), and Eleanor Visser (Winecorp, Stellenbosch).
The winner of the SA Woman Winemaker of the Year Competition will be announced at the gala ceremony at Spier on 20 July.
According to Christine Rudman, Cape Wine Master and president of the judging panel, this year’s competition was characterised by the interesting red wine styles submitted by the entrant winemakers.
“A varied range of wines were entered. It was also interesting to note how many red wines, and particularly red blends were among the entries. Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc wines showed beautifully, and the quality of these single varietal wines were fantastic,” said Rudman.
“Innovative use of grape varietals, oak maturation and blending structure show that these women winemakers are at the cutting edge of South African winemaking.”
After selecting the top wines, the five finalists were subjected to interviews from the panel of judges. Besides Rudman, they were Norma Ratcliffe from Warwick Estate, Debbie Burden, the winner of last year’s competition and winemaker at Simonsig, Jo-Ann Metler, PRO at L’Ormarins, Caroline Rillema from Caroline’s Fine Wines and Marilyn Cooper, head of the Cape Wine Academy.
Organiser Lorraine Immelman-Steyn, says that interest in the competition is definitely growing and that it is now a feature on the South African wine calendar.
“The number of entries is increasing annually, and we are attracting women winemakers from large, established cellars right down to smaller wineries in more offbeat wine regions,” she says.
“The competition is proving to be right for its time. With the South African industry recently committing itself to the local market, and South African women making the bulk of wine-purchasing decisions, the competition seeks to promote wine as a complete lifestyle product by identifying excellent women winemakers as an important part of the wine culture.
This year’s winning woman winemaker will receive an all expenses paid trip to the winemaking region of Bordeaux, valued at R25 000.
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