Cathy van Zyl MW started her wine journey on a bicycle: she asked her husband Philip to ride with her on South Africa’s famed Cape Town Cycle Tour, and he agreed if she attended a Cape Wine Academy course with him. She has since notched up more than 21 tours - and passed the prestigious Master of Wine examination in 2005. She served as head of the Institute of Masters of Wine’s Education Committee, and in September 2022 named as Chair of the prestigious institute. Cathy judges locally and internationally, occasionally contributes to wine journals and websites around the world, but spends most of her wine-time as Associate Editor of the Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide alongside Philip. In 2019, she was named Personality of the Year by the Institute of Cape Wine Masters for her passionate promotion of South African wine. Cathy's Instagram and Facebook accounts give an insight into her international wine experience.