Aimed at fostering wine waiters able to communicate the finer points of local wines, and place them in an international context, the new Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Awards are intended to bring focus and recognition of achievement to the growing group of professional wine waiters in South Africa.

Envisaged as an annual event, the competition is a joint initiative between Champagne Bollinger, Michael Fridjhon, importer of Riedel Glassware (and taster for Platter's Guide), and Vinimark The Wine Company, importer of Champagne Bollinger and South Africa's largest independent specialist wine wholesaling company.

Participants in the Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Awards will be expected to have an adequate knowledge of classical appellations and, more importantly, an ability to relate what is produced in South Africa to the expectations of international visitors more familiar with the major wine producing regions of the world.

The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Awards are open to those currently employed in the service of food and wine, with a minimum of three years of such experience. Screening and the first round of the competition will occur at regional level, and the semi-finalists will be flown to Cape Town in September for the final assessment.

The winning candidate will be announced at The Swartland Revolution in November 2011, and can look forward to a trip to France, including a visit to the House of Champagne Bollinger.

Judges will include internationally trained sommeliers resident in South Africa.