A sheep and garlic farmer from Loxton kicked Karoo dust in the eyes of 30 other entrants in the 2013 Stellenbosch Hills/Freddy Hirsch Droëwors Maker of the Year competition.
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Farming has always been in Martin Scholtz’s blood. Growing up on a farm and working with meat, has been a hobby since he can remember. Little wonder then that Martin’s champion ”wors” consisted out of Kudu, Springbok and Afrikaner sheep, as well as his personal selection of quality spices supplied by Freddy Hirsch.
The other top two finalists were Hugo Human from Durbanville and Leonard Lotter from Kraaifontein. The winner was announced at a lunch on Friday, November 8 at the popular wineland restaurant, 96 Winery Road.
After the successful Stellenbosch Hills/Freddy Hirsch Biltong Challenge in 2012, it was decided to alternate between crowning South Africa’s best biltong and droëwors maker every year.
“Stellenbosch Hills was the first cellar to combine two proudly South African delights with our Biltong & Wine Adventure to be enjoyed at our cellar door,” says PG Slabbert, winemaker and manager of Stellenbosch Hills, about this exiting competition.
“The art of spicing and drying meat nowadays is as specialised as the art of winemaking. Our aim was to create a competition where some of South Africa’s favourite products – wine and biltong – could be combined.”
Freddy Hirsch, South Africa’s foremost spice suppliers to the meat industry, has signed up as sponsor for the second year. “We chose to partner in the Stellenbosch Hills annual competition as it combines some South African favourites, droëwors and wine. This competition is ideal for local droëwors makers to showcase their skills using our quality selection of spices, and to inspire others to try it for themselves,” said Deanne Nicolau, Freddy Hirsch group marketing manager.
Each year a different Stellenbosch Hills wine is chosen to be the inspiration for entrants. The winners’ droëwors must be the best match for the chosen wine. The choice of wine this year is the Stellenbosch Hills 1707 Reserve 2010. Entrants could use any meat of their choice.
The judging panel included well-known celebrity foodies, Jan Braai and Ilse Fourie from Masterchef SA.
The panel of judges: PG Slabbert, Philip Kriel, Stellenbosch Hills director and recreational biltong and droëwors maker, Jan Braai, one of South Africa’s favourite celebrity braai chefs, Ilse Fourie, popular MasterChef contestant, Sue Von Hirschberg, Silwood trained cordon bleu chef and Samarie Smit, well known wine and food journalist.
The winner received R15 000 cash, as well as R15 000 worth of products from Stellenbosch Hills and Freddy Hirsch, while the second prize was R10 000 cash, as well as the equivalent in products with the third prize a R5 000 cash prize and the equivalent in products.
