Joy Division @ Cape Grace

“Managers of joy” is how sommeliers refer to themselves. The are 195 Master Sommeliers in the world but alas, none in SA, yet. The closest we come is Miguel Chan, sommelier at Tsogo Sun who is studying to become an MS. Last night the 12 finalists for the sixth International Young Sommeliers Competition were wined and dined at the Cape Grace. Here are two members of the Joy Division from Austria (left) and Germany (right).

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The SA finalist is Jeff Lopes from the Saxon in Johannesburg and as I type, Jeff and the other joy controllers are being put through their paces at the Mount Nelson by judges from the European Court of Sommeliers based in the UK. The MS qualification rivals the MW ticket as passport to hedonistic pleasure. Well worth studying for, judging by the meteoric rise of Miguel whose latest gig is selecting Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Shiraz Blends from Hermanus for PSG Capital at the PSG Wine Celebration 2012, along with Spier winemaker Frans Smit and Ginette de Fleuriot from wine distributors Vinimark.

Why have hedonism’s happy harpists selected Hermanus for corporate celebrations (too much alliteration, ed. you’re not Mr. Min!)? Could it be because Johan Holtzhausen, MD of PSG Capital, has a farm in the Hemel & Aarde? Let’s hope banksters are not planning a sub-prime scam for SA wine! And is PSG supremo Jannie Mouton perhaps planning JJJ – a Joy Jol in Jonkershoek?