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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

The International Wine Challenge 2007


Michael Fridjhon, the International Wine Challenge’s first
international co-chairman

International Wine Challenge (IWC) co-chairmen – Charles Metcalfe, Tim Atkin MW, Derek Smedley MW & Sam Harrop MW – welcome a formidable addition to their ranks this year. Joining them in London for the 24th annual competition will be Michael Fridjhon, South Africa’s most widely published wine writer and highly experienced international wine judge.

Being the largest and most comprehensive blind tasting in the world, the IWC requires co-chairmen of the highest calibre. Michael Fridjhon is no exception:

“Michael is one of the world's leading wine judges as well as an insightful journalist and commentator on the South African wine scene. I'm really looking forward to welcoming him as part of the IWC team.”
Tim Atkin MW, IWC co-chairman.

No stranger to the competition environment, Fridjhon is currently chairman of the judges of the South Africa Trophy Wine Show and chairman of the Shiraz and Chenin Challenge panel. He has previously judged at the IWC as well as the Australian National Wine Show, the South African National Wine Show and countless other competitions in South Africa, Australia, Chile, Slovenia and the USA.

Fridjhon’s position as South Africa’s most pre-eminent wine writer is firmly established. Chairman of the South African Food & Wine Writers’ Guild, he has maintained a regular wine column for almost 30 years and is regularly published in WINE Magazine (South Africa) and has appeared in Wine & Spirit (UK), La Revue du Vin de France and Australian Gourmet Traveller amongst many others. He wrote the Penguin Book of South African Wine, co-authors the annual Icons guide (South Africa’s champion wines) and has contributed to many encyclopaedic wine titles. He is a regular broadcaster on TV and radio.

As an educator, Michael Fridjhon is Visiting Professor of Wine Business at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business. He lectures around the world.

“I have taken on this role because the IWC is the best established of the major international shows and I will have a cutting edge judging experience. Also, given the much more active role played by IWC chairmen, I expect a benchmarking and tasting opportunity unparalleled anywhere else in the wine world.”

says Fridjhon of the challenge. He continues;

“I believe my contribution will be to bring an extensive and worldwide judging expertise which has walked the tightrope of expectations in Old as well as New World show and competition environments.”

Each year, the fifth co-chairperson will be a different, high profile individual. Invited to contribute their expertise, they will enhance what is already a judging panel comprised of the UK’s most knowledgeable experts as well as highly regarded tasters from across the globe.

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