OMTWS2019 Narina Cloete 20190507 0134
Blaauwklippen Vineyards’ winemaker Narina Cloete will once again serve as judge at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2020.

Wineries are invited to enter the 19th Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. Judging takes place from 4 to 7 May at the Grande Roche in Paarl and deadline for receipt of entries is Friday 20 March. For the Entry Kit and all details of the competition, visit OMTWS 2020 Entry Kit.

The OMTWS is recognised by many as one of South Africa’s most authoritative wine competitions identifying the very best Cape wines and honouring excellence in the industry. Regarded a competition of intense scrutiny of the wines in the judging line-up, it has also been described as “the fairest and most respectful wine show in all the world” (Eduardo Brethauer, 2017 judge and wine journalist from Chile). For more judges’ impressions from the 2019 competition, visit OMTWS 2019 Judges’ comments.

The 2020 judging panel, comprising three international and seven local judges, is chaired by wine authority Michael Fridjhon. This year the international panel comprises Anthony Mueller (California, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate reviewer), Anne Krebiehl MW (London, author and editor) and Fongyee Walker MW (Beijing, Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting, OMTWS judge in 2014). Completing the rock star team are local experts Narina Cloete, Heidi Duminy CWM, Christian Eedes, Spencer Fondaumiere, Patson Mathonsi, JD Pretorius and François Rautenbach. For more information on each of the panel members and the associate judging programme, visit OMTWS 2020 Judging Panel.

The judging co-ordination, logistics, wine entry administration and communication will again be managed by Michael Crossley and Alex Mason-Gordon.

Each year the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show Judges’ Feedback Session is held on the last day of judging and represents a comprehensive report back by the judges on their impressions of the state of the wine industry. The invitation to attend the Judges’ Feedback Session on Thursday 7 May is open to the wine industry as a whole. Seats are limited so look out for the invitation via social media closer to the time.

The show results will be announced on Tuesday 2 June, whereafter the trophy, gold and silver medallists are presented to some 1 500 wine enthusiasts at public tastings in Johannesburg (Wednesday 10 June) and Cape Town (Thursday 11 June). In addition, a selection of medal-winning wines are presented to around 1 200 Old Mutual invited guests at a series of hosted events around the country.