MEET MALU LAMBERT OUR

The TalenTed Ms.laMberT

Coming full circle, Malu laMbert is back at Wine-ofthe-Month Club as our newest panel member

Where did your Wine journey start? I fell in love with wine when I worked as a waiter to pay for my studies; this saw me going overseas at one point where I worked in a London restaurant. Every Friday at “Table 17” we tasted wines from all over the world, and soon I not only fell in love with wine itself but also the story-telling aspect of it. and What happened next? When I got back home I converted my savings into studying journalism, while waitering still to pay my bills, further getting exposed to wine. At some point I picked up the phone and called the editor of the Wine-of-the-Month Club’s then magazine Good Taste and asked if I could write for them… and so began my internship, which I slotted into the afternoon between morning classes and carrying plates at night. The hard work paid off. When I graduated I was offered a permanent position at Good Taste. hoW did things evolve from there? This is where things really kicked off with wine. Not only was I exposed daily to wines from the Wine-of-the-Month Club, but also as a working journalist I visited many farms, events and the like—and from there the thirst grew and evolved. As soon as I could afford to I started augmenting my knowledge through various courses and tastings. I am currently in the WSET Diploma programme, with just one more big exam to go. I sit on various judging panels and I am also a taster for the Platter Guide. any defining moment in your career? Yes. In 2019 when I got an email that I was on the shortlist for the Montblanc Emerging Wine Writer of the Year at the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards. Then and there I decided to book a flight to London, not at all expecting to win. I thought it would be a night to remember as well as a chance to meet one of my wine writing heroes, Jancis Robinson. And then I did win.

I am only one of two South Africans to ever bring home a Roederer (the other is Michael Fridjohn). It was an incredible feeling; I have pushed myself and took many leaps of faith. To be recognised with such an honour makes it all worthwhile. Plus, the outpouring of support from the South African wine industry at large truly moved me. I felt the love.

What do you hope to bring to the panel tastings? The panel is made up of South Africa’s winetasting icons, people I admire hugely. I hope to bring another angle and new energy. As you know, every taster is different. And I think the fact that I’ve worked for consumer magazines like Good Taste, plus I was the wine editor for Food & Home until it folded last year, gives me breadth and understanding of the wine-drinking market and what wine lovers are hoping to sip.

What are you most looking forWard to as a panellist? I’m a glutton for education and I look forward to interacting with the fine minds on the panel, as well as going ever deeper into my understanding of South African wines and the new styles and varieties coming onto the market. care to share any Wine tasting tips? Sure. First of all, acidity is always your key to a wine; it can help you identify the grape, region and style–and its ability to age. And when it comes to quality, the finish is king. A highquality wine will always have a long finish. your ultimate food and Wine pairing? Chef Franck Dangereux and I have a project together we call Franck & Wine. I bring the wine, we taste, and he creates recipes just for them. One of my recent favourites has been his Prawn and Grape Gratin with Gorgonzola partnered with Vin de Constance 2017. It’s insane, in the best way.

Malu Lambert lives in Noordhoek with her rum-making husband James and their two boys Elliott and Wilder. When she’s not sipping wine or writing about the juice, you can find her and her blue-eyed boys enjoying the Noordhoek common. For more information on Malu, the Franck & Wine recipes and FABLE (her story-telling, social media and copywriting company), visit www.malulambert.com.