In its quest to provide a better offering to the everyday wine drinker and boost the level of wine appreciation, The Sommeliers Selection has partnered with Black Cellar Club (Blacc). These two organisations will draw from each other’s expertise to provide an enriched wine list.

Blacc was formed after directors at Vula Afrika, Ian Manley and Aubrey Ngcungama, identified the need for an organisation to reach out to Africans who are interested in furthering their wine knowledge.

Gregory Mutambe, Chairman of Blacc, says the club is a very personal initiative. “Like my fellow board members, wine was not something I grew up with. My parents never drank wine at the dinner table. Yes, there was alcohol but certainly not wine. This is the case for most black Africans. With Blacc our aim is to change this scenario, to change perceptions around wine and the knowledge thereof by making it accessible to all South Africans through raising awareness about it.”

Winning wines, referred to as “Listed Wines”, are listed on the sought-after Sommeliers Selection wine list, which is distributed countrywide to trade and restaurants. All “Listed Wines” carry The Sommeliers Selection seal of approval, which is identified as a gold sticker and neck tag.

Entries for the 2017 Sommeliers Selection wine competition open on Monday 3 April. Judging will take place early June. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 26 July where after the public will get an opportunity to taste the winning wines in Johannesburg (21 September) and Cape Town (5 October).