Saxon’s Ferreira takes sommeliers’ title

Gareth Ferreira, a sommelier at The Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa in Johannesburg, has been named South Africa’s Jeune de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Sommelier Champion. It is the second time in two years that a member of the team at the hotel has taken this honour.
Ferreira (above centre), the third addition to the hotel’s team of sommeliers led by last year’s winner, Francis Krone (above left), recently returned from Europe where he was certified with the Court of Masters.
“We are incredibly proud of Gareth,” says Saxon MD George Cohen. “He is incredibly passionate about wine and under Francis’ tutelage, is a worthy successor to him. We wish him all the best with the international leg of the competition in Greece in September.”
Ferreira isn’t the only new member of the Saxon’s sommelier team.  Simone Moegel (above right) has also joined the hotel to realise her passion for new world wine countries. Moegel has a qualification with the IHK Koblenz in Germany.
Cohen said: “The Saxon Hotel has always prided itself in the professionalism and expertise of our sommeliers being able to offer and pair the best wines from across the country and the globe. Together with our new executive chef, Australian-born Nancy Kinchela, we are re-invigorating the passion behind food and wine pairing and are looking forward to sharing this with our hotel and restaurant guests.”