The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show is South Africa’s premier wine competition, identifying the very best Cape wines, recognising the achievements of the country’s winemakers, and honouring excellence in the wine industry. The competition was described as “the most fair and respectful wine show for the wines in all the world”, by Eduardo Brethauer, 2017 judge and wine journalist from Chile.

South African wineries are invited to enter their wines for the 17th Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show judging, taking place at the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl, from 30 April to 3 May 2018.

The judging panel, comprising three international and six local judges, is chaired by wine authority Michael Fridjhon. The 2018 panel includes Charles Chevallier, former technical director and now senior group adviser of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Hong Kong-based Master of Wine Debra Meiburg (a Trophy Wine Show judge in 2011) and, the first ever Master Sommelier at the show, Turkish-born Isa Bal. Completing the rock star team are local experts Narina Cloete, Heidi Duminy CWM, Christian Eedes, Nkulu Mkhwanazi and James Pietersen, with 2017 associate judge Alexandra McFarlane joining the senior judges. For more information on each of the judges and the associate judging programme, visit the new-look Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show website.

The judging co-ordination, logistics, wine entry administration and communication will again be managed by Michael Crossley and Alex Mason-Gordon. The entry deadline is 16 March.

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 3 May is open to the wine industry as a whole. Seats are limited so look out for the invitation via Facebook and Twitter closer to the time.

An extensive roadshow programme follows the release of the show’s results on Tuesday 29 May and comprises Masterclass® tastings in at least eight South African cities and Public Tastings in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Click here for the Entry Kit