Judges 2020
Michael Fridjhon
Chairman of the judges at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. Author, co-author and contributor to a number of wine books including The Oxford Companion to Wine, The Global Wine Encyclopaedia, and Platter’s South African Wine Guide. Recipient of the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Merite Agricole (France). Judge at numerous competitions including the Australian National Wine Show, the Six Nations Wine Challenge (Australia) as well as benchmark tastings in France, the United States, Chile and South Africa. First international co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge (2007). Visiting Professor of Wine Business at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business and head of the Wine Judging Academy run in association with the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. Winner of the Louis Roederer International Wine Columnist of the Year award (2012).
International Judges (confirmed for 2021)
Anne Krebiehl MW (London)
German-born but London-based, Anne Krebiehl MW is a freelance wine writer and lecturer. She is the contributing editor for Austria, Alsace, Burgundy and England for US Wine Enthusiast Magazine and also publishes widely in trade and consumer publications. She lectures, particularly on German wine, judges at international wine competitions and is a panel chair at the IWC. Her work often focuses on Pinot Noir, Riesling and traditional-method sparkling wines. She has harvested and helped to make wine in New Zealand, Germany and Italy. Her first book, The Wines of Germany, published in Infinite Ideas’s Classic Wine Library, appeared in September 2019.
Anthony Mueller (California)
Anthony Mueller is a sommelier and wine presenter with more than 20 years of experience in the food and wine industry. He has worked as a sommelier in some of the top restaurants in the US, holds numerous wine certifications, including the Advanced Sommelier certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers, and has recently joined Robert Parker Wine Advocate as a reviewer, with direct responsibility for the South African market. Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, Mueller relocated to Napa in 2014 to continue his pursuit of becoming the world’s next “double master” – studying to achieve both the Master Sommelier and Master of Wine diplomas.
Fongyee Walker MW (Beijing)
Malaysian-born Fongyee began to study wine whilst at Cambridge reading Classical Chinese, and became captain of the University Blind Wine Tasting Team, leading them to victory in 2004. In 2007, she moved to Beijing, China and became the co-founder, with Edward Ragg, of Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting. She is now a specialist wine educator and consultant in English and Mandarin. Under her direction Dragon Phoenix has become one of China’s most successful wine education companies, providing taught WSET Level 4 in Mainland China. She judges regularly – she was an Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show judge in 2014 – and has appeared as a commentator on Chinese Wine on CNN. She is also the host of WoknWine China, an internet series on food and wine with over 5 million views.
South African Judges
Alexandra McFarlane
Owner winemaker of McFarlane Wines. Former winemaker and viticulturist at Druk My Niet and viticulturist at De Toren Private Cellar. Graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a BSc degree in Viticulture and Oenology in 2010. Awarded Dombeya Scholarship to work 2011 Australian harvest in Margaret River and Barossa Valley, returning to South Africa to take up the position of assistant winemaker at Mulderbosch. Further international experience includes stints in the Napa Valley in 2012 and a return to Australia in 2013 for seasons at Kalleske Wines in Barossa Valley and Henschke Wines in Eden Valley. Also worked at Dombeya and Waterkloof and more recently as junior winemaker at Spier. Distinction graduate of the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2015. Trophy Wine Show associate judge from 2015 to 2017 and judge in 2018 and 2019.
Cathy van Zyl MW
Master of Wine who judged previously at the Trophy Wine Show , from 2003 – 2011. An occasional panellist for several other local competitions and has judged overseas with stints at Vinitaly’s Consurso Enologico Internacional, the Sydney International Wine Competition, the Shanghai International Wine Competition, Decanter’s World Wine Awards and the International Wine Competition. Associate editor of Platter’s South African Wine Guide, and co-author of the South African chapter of The Wine Report for several years. Previous Chair of the Institute of Masters of Wine’s education committee and now a Member of its Council. Lectures internationally, mostly in Japan and China, and occasionally contributes to wine journals and websites around the world. In 2019, named Institute of Cape Wine Masters’ Personality of the Year for her passionate promotion of SA wine.
Christian Eedes
Editor of Winemag.co.za. Freelance wine writer contributing to Decanter and other titles on an occasional basis. Completed a small-scale winemaking programme run by Stellenbosch University’s Department of Viticulture and Oenology and is a graduate of the inaugural Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2007. Experience includes tasting for Platter’s South African Wine Guide, taster and judge for various local and international competitions. Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show judge from 2007 to 2014 and then since 2016. Attended the Michael Fridjhon Advanced Wine Judging Academy in 2014.
François Rautenbach
Heads up the Singita Premier Wine Direct programme for the Singita Conservation brand, sourcing and supplying wines for the group’s 15 lodges and camps in four African countries. Deeply invested in hospitality having lived and worked in Africa, France, the UK and Australia – always with the emphasis on food and wine excellence. Cape Wine Academy Diploma graduate. Graduated with distinction at the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2008, served as associate judge at the Trophy Wine Show that year and as judge from 2011 to 2017, returning in 2019. Attended the Michael Fridjhon Advanced Wine Judging Academy in 2014.
Heidi Duminy CWM
Cape Wine Master and wine marketing and communications specialist recognised for her particular expertise in champagne and Cap Classique sparkling wine. Formerly group communications manager for DGB, brand manager for Veuve Clicquot and Krug and trade marketing manager of the LVMH portfolio of Champagnes and spirits. Currently group marketing manager for Meridian Holdings. Convenor for Amorim Cap Classique Challenge since 2017, chaired Classic Wine Magazine’s Cap Classique panel and judge on the sparkling wine panel for Veritas since 2011. Associate judge at the Trophy Wine Show in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and judge since 2016. Director of Cape Wine Academy as well as a senior lecturer, writer and presenter under HeidiVine communications. Distinction graduate of the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2011 and Advanced Wine Judging Academy attendee in 2014.
JD Pretorius
Cellarmaster at Warwick Wines from May 2019. Previously Cellarmaster at Steenberg Vineyards from 2012 and General Manager from July 2018 to April 2019. Graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2007 with a BSc. Viticulture and Oenology degree. Diner’s Club Young Winemaker of the Year in 2014 and Cape Winemakers Guild member since December 2018. Distinction graduate at the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2010 and attended the Advanced Wine Judging Academy in 2014. Trophy Wine Show associate judge from 2011 to 2013 and judge in 2014, 2015, 2016 returning in 2019.
Narina Cloete
Winemaker at Blaauwklippen Agricultural Estate. Honours BSc Agriculture (Oenology) cum laude graduate of Stellenbosch University. Completed harvests at Glen Carlou, Dornier, AA Badenhorst Family Wines and Stellenzicht. Joined Quoin Rock Winery in 2008 as assistant winemaker and was winemaker there from 2010 until 2014. Has served on judging panels of South Africa’s Young Wine Show, FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Vintners Classification, Blaauwklippen Blending Competition and Veritas Awards and judged in Spain at the Zarcillo International Wine Competition 2018. Distinction graduate of the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2013 and attended the advanced Wine Judging Academy in 2014. Trophy Wine Show associate judge in 2013, 2014 and 2016 and judge since 2017.
Patson Mathonsi
Regional Sales Manager at Spier Wine Estate. Eat Out and Mercedes-Benz Sommelier of the Year in 2014. From coffee shop to Italian bistro his career in fine wine progressed with his appointment as Head Sommelier at DW11-13 Restaurant in Johannesburg and as sales representative at The Reciprocal Wine Trading from 2015 until 2018. Has completed the Cape Wine Academy Certificate in Wine and WSET Levels 1, 2 and 3. He is a member of the Hugues Lepin Sommelier and Wine Academy. Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy 2016 graduate. Trophy Wine Show associate judge from 2016 to 2018 and judge in 2019.
Spencer Fondaumiere
National Brand Manager at Warwick Wine Estate. Kenyan-born Fondaumiere began his journey in wine when he moved to South Africa in 2013. He is one of only 3 ASI (international sommelier association) certified sommeliers from South Africa, has completed WSET Level 3 and is a graduate of the Michael Fridjhon Judging Academy in 2016. A qualified chef, Spencer was the operations manager and sommelier for the Open Door group of restaurants. Senior judge at The Sommeliers Selection, the Ultra Value Wine Challenge, the Standard Bank Top 10 Chenin Blanc Challenge and the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge. Trophy Wine Show associate judge from 2016 to 2019.
Trizanne Barnard
Graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2002 with a BSc Viticulture and Oenology degree. Following vintages in Alsace, Bordeaux, Northern Rhône as well as Portugal and Western Australia, served as chief winemaker for Anwilka in Stellenbosch from 2005 to 2008. Released the maiden vintage of her Trizanne Signature Wines in 2010. A distinction graduate of the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2009 and Advanced Wine Judging Academy attendee in 2014, she has served on the judging panels for South Africa’s Young Wine Show and Wine magazine. Winemakers’ Choice Awards judge for 5 years and Best Value Wine judge in 2015. Trophy Wine Show associate judge in 2010 and 2012 and judge from 2014 – 2016.