Two South African women have been shortlisted on a leading international research company’s line-up of the world’s most influential figures in wine over the last decade. British-based Wine Intelligence has included Su Birch, CEO of Wines of South Africa, and Lynne Sherriff MW, who chairs the Institute of Masters of Wine, based in London, in its list of 30 top wine figures.

Others on the list include prominent names such as Robert Parker, behind Wine Advocate; Wine Library blogger Gary Vaynerchuck, John Casella of Casella Wines, famous French winemaker Michel Rolland, Miguel Torres of prominent Spanish company Bodegas Miguel Torres, and Eduardo Guilisasti, of Chilean company Vina Concha y Toro. The judges felt that the two women have positively impacted the global wine industry.

Su Birch, who has been CEO of WOSA since 2002, has had an “exceptional role” in developing South Africa’s wine producing reputation. She has actively promoted South Africa’s competitive advantage in producing a rich variety of wine styles, spearheads the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, and advocates the country’s Sustainability Seal.

Lynne Sherriff was lauded for her “both inspirational and determined leadership in the world of wine experts”. She trained in Stellenbosch, Germany and France and speaks English, French, Dutch and German. She has been chairperson of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) since 2010 and is one of only four South Africans to earn her MW – the wine industry’s highest professional accreditation.
Despite living in the UK, she remains closely involved in the local wine industry and serves on the Veritas judging panel for the annual SA National Wine Awards.

Click here for the full list of nominees. Article courtesy What’s Up Cape Town. Image courtesy Riebeek Valley’s Med Fest