The top three finalists for the 2012 Stellenbosch Hills Biltongmaker of the year Competition are, in alphabetical order:
Frik Crafford – from Worcester
Jakes van der Merwe – from Middelburg
Schalk van Deventer – from Somerset West
‘Stellenbosch Hills was the first cellar to combine two proudly South African delights with our Biltong & Wine Adventure to be enjoyed at our cellar door. The art of drying meat nowadays is as specialised as the art of wine making.
Our aim was to create a competition where two of South Africa’s most popular products – wine and biltong – could be combined,’ says PG Slabbert, Winemaker and Manager at this cellar of this exiting competition.
This year’s competition is much bigger than previous years, especially as Freddy Hirsch, South Africa’s foremost spice suppliers to the meat industry, has signed up as sponsor. The Biltong Maker of the Year competition has proven to be a huge success since its inception four years ago.
Each year a different Stellenbosch Hills wine is chosen to be the inspiration for entrants. The winner’s biltong must be the best match for the chosen wine. This year the choice of wine is the Stellenbosch Hills Shiraz 2007.
Judges
The 54 entries were tasted by a panel of 6 judges: Pg Slabbert, Stellenbosch Hills cellar master, Philip Kriel, Stellenbosch Hills director & recreational biltong maker, Jenny Morris, one of South Africa’s favourite celebrity chefs, Ilse Fourie, popular MasterChef contestant, Sue Von Hirschberg and Hermann Schultz.
The winner will be announced on Friday 19 October at an awards luncheon at 96 Winery Road. The first prize is R15 000 cash as well as R15 000 worth of products from Stellenbosch Hills and Freddy Hirsch, the second prize is R10 000 cash as well as the equivalent in products and the third prize is R5000 cash and the equivalent in products.