Blind wine tasting got a whole new meaning when the Institute of Cape Wine Masters celebrated its first-ever blind graduate among four new Cape Wine Masters, three of whom are from the Western Cape and one from Johannesburg.
Jacques Lombard from Cape Town has made history for being the first blind candidate to participate in the Cape Wine Masters programme. He was joined by fellow Cape Wine Master graduates Riaan van der Spuy, cellar master at Swartland Winery, Janine van Zyl, a sommelier and international account manager at global wine and spirits social media agency FirstPour, and Bradley Wood from Johannesburg, a specialist urologist in private practice.
Since its inception in 1983 a total of 120 Cape Wine Masters to date have achieved this elite self-study qualification, making this year’s achievements all the more remarkable.
The new Cape Wine Masters were celebrated at a prestigious awards luncheon hosted by the Institute of Cape Wine Masters on Friday 22 August, together with the Pinotage Association and the Lanzerac Hotel and Spa. The 100th anniversary of pinotage and the first bottled pinotage under the Lanzerac label were also celebrated.
Tasting group for visually impaired wine enthusiasts
After losing his sight in 1996 at the age of 26, Lombard’s introduction to the wine industry came through an invitation by Hermann Kirschbaum, then winemaker at Buitenverwachting, to join Wine Insight, a wine-tasting group for visually-impaired wine enthusiasts. This unique environment, free from influence by labels, brands, or appearance, honed his reliance on aroma, flavour and texture, skills that proved invaluable in his wine career.
Distinction
Twenty years later, in 2016, Lombard founded Winebrands, a Cape Town-based wine retail business supported by a dedicated team. A customer’s remark about purchasing only award-winning wines sparked his curiosity about South Africa’s awards system. His research revealed that most judges on leading panels were Cape Wine Masters or Masters of Wine, a discovery that inspired him to enrol with the Cape Wine Academy.
Progressing through the certificate and diploma courses with distinction, Lombard earned an invitation to join the demanding five-year Cape Wine Masters programme.
Throughout his studies he received guidance from no fewer than 84 industry leaders, whose mentorship and generosity he credited as instrumental to his success. His journey has allowed him to taste widely, locally and internationally, and to serve on numerous tasting panels, building enduring friendships with award-winning winemakers, buyers and fellow connoisseurs.
For Lombard the Cape Wine Master title is the culmination of a journey defined by resilience, passion and the unwavering belief that wine is best judged by the pleasure it brings in the glass.
For Lombard the Cape Wine Master title is the culmination of a journey defined by resilience, passion and the unwavering belief that wine is best judged by the pleasure it brings in the glass.
His dissertation examined the formation, health effects and mitigation of biogenic amines in wine, dispelling common myths about sulphites and highlighting the amine compounds as a key cause of wine-related discomfort. The dissertation investigates the complex role of biogenic amines in wine; nitrogen-containing compounds produced and broken down in the human body through normal metabolic processes. While essential for regulating functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, brain activity, digestion and immune response, these compounds can present significant health risks when consumed in excessive amounts from certain foods and beverages, particularly red wine.
Factors influencing biogenic amine formation
The research provides an extensive literature review of factors influencing biogenic amine formation in wine, including microorganisms, terroir, grape cultivar as well as viticultural and cellar practices.
Central to their formation is the activity of lactic-acid bacteria, naturally present in the winemaking environment. Lombard examined how these compounds develop across the wine production process, from vineyard to bottle, and how their presence can be managed.
The dissertation also addresses a common misconception, that sulphur dioxide is the primary cause of headaches or discomfort after wine consumption.
Instead, multiple studies indicate that excessive biogenic amines, rather than sulphites, are the more likely culprit, responsible for symptoms such as headaches, flushing, skin rashes, nausea and elevated blood pressure.
Consumer survey
An exploratory consumer survey within the study revealed limited public awareness of biogenic amines and their potential effects, underscoring the importance of education in this area. Lombard further outlined strategies for winemakers to prevent, limit or remove biogenic amines, in that way improving both wine quality and consumer experience.
Tolerance levels vary between individuals, with women generally having a lower capacity to metabolise elevated amine levels than men. While the human body can process normal amounts of biogenic amines from food and drink, excessive levels overwhelm this ability, resulting in discomfort. Jacques’ research not only clarifies the science behind wine-related intolerance but also offers practical tools for producers to address the issue.
Active lifestyle
Beyond wine, Lombard maintains an active lifestyle, training weekly on a tandem bicycle and participating annually in the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
He lives in Welgemoed with his wife, Petro, and their son, Daniel.
