Annually, the Interhotel Challenge arranged by Showcook takes their candidates on a week-long educational experience called Grape to Glass, which includes wine estate visits. Many of the candidates will never have been to the Cape or to a wine farm and it is an integral part of ensuring these young enthusiasts become South African Wine ambassadors. Each candidate & their hotel is matched with one of the wine brands participating in the challenge. The Wine Stewards need to soak up everything about their partner producer and at their exams/cook-off, need to showcase their learnings to judges Cape Wine Master Sandy Harper and top sommelier Jean-Vincent Ridon. On Wed 9th Sept, we visited Anthonij Rupert near Franschhoek, where the stewards had a wonderful walk through of the cellar, the L'Ormarins car museum as well as a tasting presented by winemakers Vernon van der Hoven and Xander Spreeth. I am sure this is an experience which will forever remain in their wine memories. The Interhotel Challenge Awards will be presented at a glittering evening held at the Belmond Mount Nelson in Cape Town on 1st Dec 2026. We look forward to seeing the accomplishments of these young wine ambassadors.