Danwin James - SA wine ambassador to South Korea

Backsberg's Tasting Room Manager, Danwin James (pictured fourth from the right), has just returned from a successful wine trip to South Korea. He was invited by a Korean delegation to go to Seoul to act as an ambassador for South African wine. Danwin participated in lectures and wine judging, rubbing shoulders with some of the top sommeliers from Bordeaux and Burgundy. Danwin's level of excitement on returning from this, his first overseas excursion, is indicative of a hugely stimulating and informative experience. Korean sommeliers want him to come back to South Korea in the near future.

Earlier in the year, a Korean delegation of wine experts visited some 40 wine estates in the Western Cape in search of an ambassador for South African wine. The delegation had a private tasting with Danwin in February at Backsberg. Toward the end of May Danwin was formally invited to represent South African wine in South Korea.

Danwin’s trip was sponsored by the Kyung Hee University. Students of the university can take a rigorous wine appreciation course as part of their studies. They have an annual sommelier event where guests from the world’s wine regions are invited to judge. Danwin was part of the judging panel that evaluated blind tasting, food and wine pairing and decanting and serving of wine by the students.

Danwin reported that Pinotage was a favourite amongst Korean tasters. He was also very impressed with the excellent levels of customer service and hospitality experienced in Seoul and hopes to implement these key learnings from his trip here in South Africa.

I think basically the only Danwin didn't enjoy from the trip was the Korean food- apparently a bit too exotic for his tastes!