Trophy Wine Show 2008 - The Judges

ON THE JURY

International and local tasters who judged the various classes at the 2008 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show.

SHOW CHAIRMAN:

Michael Fridjhon (South Africa)Chairman of the judges at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show.

Author, co-author and contributor to a number of wine books including ICONS (SA), The Global Wine Encyclopaedia, The Oxford Companion to Wine and Platter's (SA). Recipient of the Chevalier de l'Ordre du Merite Agricole (France). Panel chairman for the WINE magazine Shiraz and Chenin Blanc Challenges (SA) and judge at numerous other competitions including the International Wine and Spirit Competition (UK), the Australian National Wine Show, the Tri-Nations Challenge as well as benchmark tastings in France, the United States, Chile and South Africa. He was the first international co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge (2007). Visiting Professor at the UCT Graduate School of Business.

INTERNATIONAL JUDGES:

Sam Harrop MW (UK)

Trained as a winemaker in his native New Zealand. Early career included stints at Villa Maria's wineries in Auckland, Blenheim and Hawkes Bay, followed by a spell at Littorai Wines in California, where he developed a special interest in natural and biodynamic winemaking. In 1997 he moved to the United Kingdom where he was employed as wine buyer for influential retailer Marks & Spencer, working closely with producers throughout the world's key wine regions. In 2004 he started his own consultancy and now works with a number of wineries in Portugal, the Loire Valley, Southern France and Spain. Active member of the Institute of Masters of Wine mentoring program. One of five chairmen of the International Wine Challenge, responsible for the logging and analysis of faults (including closure related problems) at the competition. Judging portfolio extends to the Air New Zealand Wine Awards, the Vin de Pays and Spanish Top 100 competitions.

Joël Payne

(German based)Editor of Meininger's Wine Business International and chief editor and publisher of the Gault Millau German Wine Guide over the past 15 years. Contributor to the Capital, Alles-Über-Wein, Vinum and Weinwelt over the past 20 years and, more recently, Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. Also writes for Decanter and The World of Fine Wine and is President of the International Circle of Wine Writers (FIJEV). Three times winner of the best sommelier award in Germany, a member of the Grand Jury Européen and has judged at several shows including Concours Mondial, Mundus Vini, Wines for Asia and the Japan Wine Challenge.
Anthony Rose (UK)Wine columnist for The Independent and contributor to Decanter, Wine & Spirit and The World of Fine Wine. Contributor to the auction and investment sections in Jancis Robinson's Oxford Companion to Wine, to Tom Stevenson's Wine Report and to WINE (h.f.ullmann publishing, 3rd edition). Teaches at the Leiths School of Food and Wine, and has judged in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, California, Japan and France. Chairman of the Decanter World Wine Awards Argentina panel and the Decanter Wine Retailer Awards panel, co-chairman of the Sake International Challenge in Tokyo. Winner of the Glenfiddich Wine Writer of the Year Award (2000 and 2005) and the Prix du Champagne Lanson Black Label Award (2000 and 2002). Judge at the inaugural Trophy Wine Show in 2002.


SOUTH AFRICAN JUDGES:


Christian Eedes

Editor of WINE magazine and author of Gulp!, the weekly WINE magazine webletter, Joined the magazine as a journalist in 2002, having graduated with a B.A. Honours degree in Philosophy from Stellenbosch University. In 2005, completed a small-scale winemaking course as well as a wine evaluation course under the auspices of the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University. In 2007 obtained Certificate of Competence at the inaugural WINE magazine Michael Fridjhon Wine Tasting Academy. Regular judge at WINE magazine panel tastings. Associate judge at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show in 2005 and 2006, judge in 2007.

Gary Jordan

Owner-winemaker of Jordan Winery, having trained as a geologist before pursuing his interest in winemaking to America where he and wife Kathy graduated from the Masters programme at the University of California (Davis). After a further year spent working in California, they returned to the family farm in Stellenboschkloof where Gary has been responsible for the development of the magnificent 146ha property overlooking Table Mountain, False Bay and Stellenbosch. His passion to grow top quality fruit has produced wines displaying the ripe, concentrated and fruity accessibility of New World examples while retaining the complex elegance of Classic styles. Judge at the Trophy Wine Show in 2007.

Angela Lloyd

Freelance wine writer, associate editor of the Grape website, co-author of The South African Wine Cellar Book, contributor to Platter's (since 1987), Wines of the World (Dorling Kindersley) and Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guide and About Wine (Delmar Learning). Judged at the Sydney International 100, Vinitaly's Consurso Enologico Internacional and at various tastings in South Africa, including the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Awards and the SAA Winelist Selections. A member of the Trophy Wine Show judging panel since its inception.

James Pietersen

Former wine buyer for the Vineyard Connection and now partner in a luxury travel business. A University of Stellenbosch graduate, currently following the Cape Wine Masters Program. A WINE magazine panel taster (since 2006) and a contributor to Platter's. Achieved Certificate of Competence with Distinction from the WINE magazine Michael Fridjhon Wine Tasting Academy in 2007. Associate judge at the Trophy Wine Show in 2007.

Cathy van Zyl MW

South Africa's only resident Master of Wine. Freelance wine writer, co-publisher of the Grape website and contributor to Platter's as well as The Wine Report 2007 (Dorling Kindersley). Judge at Vinitaly's Consurso Enologico Internacional and the Sydney International Wine Competition. Associate judge at the Trophy Wine Show in 2003 and judge since 2004.


Chris Williams

Cellarmaster and technical director at Meerlust Estate since 2004 and owner-winemaker for The Foundry Wines since 2001. Graduated from the University of Cape Town and Elsenburg College of Agriculture. Past assistant winemaker at Château Bon Pasteur in Pomerol, Bordeaux, and previously employed at Klein Constantia, False Bay Wines and Delaire. Currently a UK Master of Wine student. Judge at the Trophy Wine Show since 2006.

ASSOCIATE JUDGES:

The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show draws upon several of South Africa's new-generation winemakers, all of whom have appropriate tasting experience. They are provided with the opportunity of working in a rigorous show-judging environment and learning from the international and local tasters to whom they are seconded. Associate judges work in the tasting room with the main panel and are invited to participate in the discussion, however their scores are not included in the final tally.

Eric Botha

Wine specialist for Woolworths. Has also worked as a sommelier in Burgundy on an exchange programme. Achieved the Certificate of Competence from the WINE magazine Michael Fridjhon Wine Tasting Academy in 2008 and is a current Cape Wine Academy Diploma student.

Miguel Chan

Sommelier and beverage manager at the Cellars-Hohenort Hotel in Constantia. Represented South Africa in 2007 at the inaugural Under 32 Concours Internationales des Jeunes Sommeliers world final in Frankfurt, Germany (finished 4th). Employment history includes stints at the Royal Palm and The Oberoi Hotel in Mauritius. Achieved Certificate of Competence with Distinction from the WINE magazine Michael Fridjhon Wine Tasting Academy in 2008.

Ginette de Fleuriot CWM

Cape Wine Master and wine buyer for winesense. Began wine career in Germany managing a specialist wine retail store in Cologne, then focused on wine education and training for sommeliers and the wine trade before returning to South Africa in 2006. A lecturer for the Cape Wine Academy and a regular WINE magazine tasting panel member, having also served on the 2008 SAA Winelist Selection panel. Contributor to Platter's (2007 and 2008 editions) and whilst in Europe worked as a wine judge and freelance journalist for publications including Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland and Selection Wine Magazine. Achieved Certificate of Competence with Distinction from the WINE magazine Michael Fridjhon Wine Tasting Academy in 2008.

Tariro Masayiti

Zimbabwean born, graduated with a BSc. in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Zimbabwe and went on to complete a BSc. Agriculture (Viticulture and Oenology) at the University of Stellenbosch before joining Distell. After two vintages with The Bergkelder (Fleur du Cap), appointed white wine maker at Nederburg. Served as wine judge at several competitions: Veritas, Diners Club Winemaker of the Year, SAA and the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Khuselo Mputa

Born in Stellenbosch and educated in East London and Cape Town. Holds a City and Guilds Advanced Food & Beverage Diploma as well as a National Diploma in Hotel Operations and Management. After practical training, worked at various Michelin-star restaurants in London until returning to South Africa. In 2007 he joined Belthazar Restaurant and Wine Bar as sommelier and in 2008 graduated from the WINE magazine Michael Fridjhon Wine Tasting Academy with a Certificate of Competence.

Roland Peens

After an Economics degree from the University of Stellenbosch, he has worked in wine retail, import/export and marketing, and as a sommelier in SA and London. UK Master of Wine student. Shareholder and manager of Wine Cellar, a Cape Town firm which imports, cellars and brokers fine wines. Judges for WINE magazine and Platter's. Achieved the Certificate of Competence with Distinction from the WINE magazine Michael Fridjhon Wine Tasting Academy in 2008.

François Rautenbach

Heads up the Premier Wine program for Singita Private Game Reserve, sourcing and supplying wines for the Singita properties in Southern and East Africa. Achieved a Certificate of Competence with Distinction from the WINE magazine Michael Fridjhon Wine Tasting Academy in 2008. Twice runner-up in the Cape Wine Academy Cap Classique Tasting Competition.