Jeff Lopes to represent South Africa in 6th World Sommeliers Competition

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Jeff Lopes will represent South Africa at the 6th Concours International des Jeunes Sommeliers in Cape Town on Friday, September 21, 2012

Twenty-seven-year-old Jeff Lopes – an assistant restaurant manager at Johannesburg’s Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa – plans to uphold South Africa’s reputation as an unbeatable wine-loving nation when he comes up against eleven of the world’s top young sommeliers at the 6th Concours International des Jeunes Sommeliers in Cape Town on Friday, September 21.

This will be the first time the prestigious competition will be held in this country.

Jeff’s position in the list of international finalists was decided when he won both the regional (Gauteng) and national legs of South Africa’s young sommeliers competition earlier this year.

“My passion for wines was ignited when I worked in a Michelin 1-star restaurant on the South Coast of England,” he said.

But it was probably inevitable that he would grow to love good food and good drink. “I grew up in a typical Portuguese family where we always had these big family meals, and my grandfather grew his own vines.

“He had us press the grapes with our feet, and he made his own home vintages.”

Once he knew what he wanted in life, Jeff moved back to South Africa  and began to learn his craft in earnest under mentors Francis Krone and Gareth Ferreira.

It’s not an easy profession, though: the world recognises only about two hundred master sommeliers.

“I’m presently certified at the second level, and I’d like to study for the advanced certificate, and perhaps qualify by the end of 2013,” he said.

Before he does that, though, he and his colleagues from Australia, Austria, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, and the USA must face a panel of international judges – a panel that’s going to be very difficult to please.

Brian Julyan, CEO of the Court of Master Sommeliers; Bryan Dawes, the Court’s education director; master sommelier Frank Kämmer; and Neil Grant, the chairperson of the newly-established Sommeliers Association of South Africa, will test the competitors on their practical skills (a champagne service test, the identification of spirits and liqueurs by nose, blind tastings, decanting, glass service, wine and food pairing) – and on their knowledge of the wines of the world.

The Concours International des Jeunes Sommeliers will take place during a Grand Chapitre (multi-day food and wine event) of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs South Africa that will include visits to the country’s most prominent wine growing areas.

“It’s going to be great exposure for South African wines,” said Jeff.

“I know the other young sommeliers are going to really enjoy our wine routes, and they’re going to love the hospitality of the people they’ll meet here.”

And his own favourite South African wines?

“Syrah is definitely my red of choice, and I’m also very fond of our chardonnays and chenin blancs – but I also love our iconic desert wines like Klein Constantia’s Vin de Constance.”

Still, he said, being the only South African in the competition isn’t going to benefit him in any way.

“The master sommeliers are internationally based, so the wines we’ll be tasting could come from anywhere.

“I’m aiming to place in the top three at least: even a third will be the best result South Africa has ever achieved.”

He said that gold might be a difficult call. “The competition from the USA and the UK is going to be very stiff, but I want to do the best I possibly can.”

And his future?

“I’d like to move down to the Cape eventually, and perhaps even one day become a master sommelier.”

But, he said, that could be a while in coming. “It’s not likely to happen until we have a bigger group of advanced sommeliers in this country.”

There’s no doubt, though, that events like the Grand Chapitre (which will run in Cape Town from the 15th to the 23rd of September) and its competition to choose the world’s best young sommelier will help to achieve that end.

For Jeff, though, there’s the personal angle, too: “It’s going to be awesome to be the home representative,” he said.

The world’s top young sommelier will be announced at a gala dinner and induction ceremony at the Table Bay Hotel on Friday, September the 21st.

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