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Thousands of soccer fans at 2010 public viewing areas across the world can expect to share in South Africa's "braai culture" during next year's World Cup.

Wines of South Africa (Wosa) is planning a series of international braai festivals during the 30-day tournament, a World Cup for sommeliers, and a range of other activities to highlight South Africa's hosting of the event.

The braai festivals are to be held in key export destinations such as the UK, Holland, Germany, Scandinavia and countries in Latin America and the Far East.

The events will feature high-profile South African chefs and winemakers at venues where matches are set to be televised, Wosa spokesman Andre Morgenthal said yesterday.

Linked to the braai festival concept would be the publication and international distribution of a book of special braai recipes created by local winemakers to match their wines.

A World Cup for sommeliers, to be held in a number of countries selling South African wines, would increase awareness of local wines.

The winning contestant from each participating country - judged on the basis of their ability to identify a series of local wines and pair them successfully with foods - would be flown to South Africa for the final event towards the end of next year.

Meanwhile, Wosa chief executive Su Birch confirmed that the project linked to the sale of Fundi wines, to create 2010 new wine waiters ahead of the games, was well under way with more than half the candidates already trained.

Drawn from the hospitality industry as well as the ranks of the unemployed, they had undergone special courses in Cape Town, Joburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

Wosa has also developed a logo for 2010 that includes a soccer ball and has been approved by Fifa.

Source: Cape Argus, p8 on October 22, 2009