Best Sommelier of South Africa 2023 & Star Wine List of the Year Awards

Jean-Vincent Ridon, Best Sommelier of South Africa 2023.

The South African Sommeliers Association (SASA) has announced Jean-Vincent Ridon of Sommelier’s Academy as the winner of the Best Sommelier of South Africa 2023 title. Laurie Cooper of Abingdon Wine Estate in KZN securing the runner-up position and Tapiwa Jamu of Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel in Pretoria came third.

The Star Wine List of the Year South Africa awards were made public simultaneously and were as follows:

Grand Prix presented by Winterhalter / Gold Star
The best overall list:
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town 

Best Long List presented by Winterhalter / Gold Star
The best wine list with over 600 listings:
Aubergine, Cape Town

Best Medium-Sized List presented by Amorim Cork / Gold Star
The best wine list with 200 – 600 listings:
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town 

Best By the Glass List / Gold Star
Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa, Johannesburg

Best Sparkling Wine List presented by Nyetimber / Gold Star
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town

Sustainable Wine List presented by WWF Conservation Champions / Gold Star
Recognizes a wine list that has put extra emphasis on the wine program’s impact, including wine growing, winemaking, packaging and transport:
ëlgr restaurant, Cape Town 

Best Short List / Gold Star
The best wine list with fewer than 200 listings:                                 
Grub & Vine, Cape Town 

Best Newcomer List / Gold Star                                                                          
Signature Restaurant Umhlanga, Durban

Star Wine List is a media company which seeks to provide a guide to great wine bars and wine restaurants around the world. It was launched in Stockholm, Sweden in 2017, and is now live in more than 35 countries in the world. All venues are selected by top wine professionals and the information is available via an app on Starwinelist.com.