Enter the 2nd Du Toitskloof Wines Wine Writer of the Year competition

Members of the South African wine writing fraternity has just over six weeks to get their entries in and stand a chance of winning R30 000 in the second Du Toitskloof Wines Wine Writer of the Year competition, in association with Standard Bank. 

Entrants have to submit an unpublished, researched article on “The role and/or history of design in contributing to the uniqueness of the South African wine industry”.

Marius Louw, Chief Executive Officer of Du Toitskloof Wines, said it was only natural for this year’s topic to link directly to Cape Town as the World Design Capital for 2014.

“Cape Town is inextricably linked to the history of wine and winemaking in South Africa and these days also to wine tourism. The design of wine labels, restaurants, cellar buildings and tasting rooms has played a pivotal role in creating an image for the South African wine industry. Today creative designs are incorporated in more and more wineries and wine labels not only as a marketing tool locally but also to distinguish brands overseas and create memorable experiences for tourists visiting wine farms and estates in South Africa.
“Our wine writer competition aims to inspire writers, capture the essence of the South African wine industry and to offer a platform for wine journalists to be recognized for providing fresh insights to those working in the industry. And we are very excited to see the result of entries flowing from our choice of topic for this year’s competition.”

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Entrants are encouraged to identify their own area for discussion within the topic, but these could include aspects of architecture, packaging, interior design and technology that have contributed to the character of Brand South Africa. Articles must be thoroughly researched and referenced, but the judges are also looking for a sense of creativity in keeping with the topic. Writers in published as well as on-line media are invited to enter.

Alayne Reesberg, CEO for Cape Town World Design Capital 2014, says by recognising the role of the wine culture in contributing to the aesthetics and culture of the Cape, the Du Toitskloof Wine Writer of the Year Competition, in association with Standard Bank, will create an exciting narrative to add to this year’s World Design Capital activities. “Design and wine are both about creativity, and getting creative minds – such as wine writers – to contribute to the theme of wine, design and the Cape culture will create a lasting legacy. Their stories inevitably will be about more than just the wine – they are about the people and communities that plant and harvest and the skills and palates of the winemakers. All these things, together, constitute the legacy. The combination of South Africa’s talented wine writers and a city and region with a 355 year old wine culture has the potential to create riveting journalism. We look forward to what these creative minds come up with and wish each entrant the best of luck.”

Standard Bank has continued its commitment in supporting the competition for a consecutive year and Willie du Plessis, Head of Business Banking in the Western Cape comments that “the wine industry remains a very important player in the South African economy and the sustainability of the industry is key to Standard Bank. We subscribe to the research done by wine writers about the industry as a value adding and rewarding initiative co-sponsored by Standard Bank”.

Entries need to be submitted by 26 September at 16h00 and professional services firm PwC will once again oversee the entries, facilitate the judging process and reveal the winner at a gala dinner to be held in November 2014. The prize money for the winning entry is R30 000.

To ensure continuity the judging panel will remain the same, chaired by Dr Gawie Botma of the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University. The judges are Erns Grundling, multi-award winning features and lifestyle writer; Maureen Joubert, veteran wine journalist and a past editor of Wynboer (today Wineland); and Prof Ian Glenn who heads the Department of Media Studies at the University of Cape Town. Entries will be judged based on the quality of the research, of the writing, its user-friendliness, creativity, credibility of sources as well as originality and insight.

For more information on the competition and entry requirements please visit www.dutoitskloof.co.za.