Goffe-Wood joins winelist judges

Chef Peter Goffe-Wood, a consultant to some of South Africa’s leading restaurants and a MasterChef South Africa judge, has joined the experts that will assess the entries in this year’s Diners Club Winelist Awards.
Goffe-Wood will work with Marilyn Cooper, who heads the Cape Wine Academy; Tsogo Sun group sommelier Miguel Chan; JP Rossouw, author of Rossouw’s Restaurants; Nikki Dumas, restaurant winelist specialist; and wine experts Fiona McDonald and Christine Rudman.
Also on this year’s panel, again chaired by veteran wine critic and author Dave Hughes, is Matthew van Heerden, the reigning Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year, from Uva Mira Vineyards near Somerset West.
Hughes said he was delighted with the composition of this year’s panel line-up. “Every member of the team has a keen appreciation of the integral part wine plays in any dining experience. Their expertise in the field will most certainly raise the bar for participants in achieving the top honours.”
Restaurants, hotels and guest houses countrywide are invited to submit their winelists for the competition which is judged on the basis of selection, balance, presentation and the extent to which it complements the menu.
Details and entry forms can be found at www.dinersclub.co.za.
Entries close on Friday, 27 July, at 16.00 and can be delivered to the following Diners Club offices:
Cape Town: Alphen Park, Constantia Main Road, Constantia
Gauteng: ACA Krans Building, 35 Symons Road, Auckland Park, Johannesburg
Durban: Ground floor, 8 Nollsworth Crescent, Nollsworth Park,La Lucia Ridge Office Estate
Judging takes place in August. The names of the winners of the Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver awards, as well as of the national Best Winelist and Best Wine Steward, will be announced at functions in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban in September.
Last year the VIN MMX Restaurant in the Sandton Sun Hotel won the award for having the best winelist in the country.