Wine award goes to Jabulani

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By John Curry

EMC News - What a way to top off a first year in business!

Jabulani Vineyard and Winery on Jock Trail in Goulbourn west of Richmond has seen its owners Tom and Janet Moul honoured as Wine Person of the Year for 2011 by the National Capital Sommelier Guild.

This award, which was first presented in 1996, is how the National Capital Sommelier Guild honours an individual or individuals who have markedly contributed to the wine community of the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

The recipient or recipients of the award are considered to have contributed to the advancement of the wine knowledge of those in the trade as well as consumders, to the establishment of standards of excellence in the wine trade and to the development of the wide range of professional skills required by those in the trade.

Individuals who have been recognized in the past with this Wine Person of the Year award include His Excellency John Ralston Saul, writers Peter Ward, Michael Botner and Rod Phillips, educator Vic Harradine, sommelier Veronique Rivest and restauranteur Cesare Santaguida of Vittoria Trattoria restaurants..

Established in 1993, the National Capital Sommelier Guild is a non-profit, member-run organization dedicated to the appreciation of fine wines and spirits and to the advancement of professionalism in all aspects of the sales and service of such products. Reflecting the broad perspective and interests of its members, the Guild offers a diverse program of some 50 events annually. Each focuses on some aspect of theory, tasting and/or service in a comfortable and relaxed setting. They include regular advance tastings of vintages releases, regional and varietal tastings, cooperative sponsorship of special events with other win organizations and events exploring the marriage of wine with diverse cuisines.

For Tom and Janet Moul of Jabulani Vineyard and Winery, receiving this "Wine Person of the Year" award for 2011 from the National Capital Sommelier Guild was over whelming.

"The award means a great deal to us as the criteria for it is that the person (s) is deemed to have had a major influence on the Ottawa wine industry," Tom and Janet wrote in an email about the award.

"So, as this is our first year being open, we were totally blown away with the award," they added.

Tom and Janet Moul and Jabulani Vineyard and Winery have not only received this award but they are also in the running in the People's Choice Business Awards held by the Kanata Chamber of Commerce in the category of New Business of the Year in Goulbourn. Online voting for this award at the Kanata Chamber of Commerce website runs until Friday, Feb. 3. For Tom and Janet Moul, being a eople's Choice Business Award winner would mean a lot as it is a vote by the public and it would be recognition from customers that they enjoy the products that Jabulani Vineyard and Winery is producing.

Jabulani Vineyard and Winery opened for business last June and enjoyed brisk business throughout the summer. It opened again on a couple of weekends before Christmas to provide customers with a Christmas shopping opportunity.

john.curry@metroland.com