team

Meet Debi van Flymen

Restaurant Mosaic Wine Director
Debi Van Flymen

Debi van Flymen

Restaurant Mosaic Wine Director

Debi van Flymen is a world renowned connoisseur and curator of fine dining experiences and the newest member of the Château des Tesnières team. Having collected a bouquet of accolades over the years, she has built a legacy which spans technology, strategic consulting, sales and marketing and operational expertise.

Debi’s passion for food and wine was nurtured around her own dinner table where, together with her family, she entertained many guests. For her, “The ultimate experience is not a single pairing of a particular dish with a single wine, it is one where a diner doesn’t know whether to lift the fork or glass to their lips next. Each exquisite bite and sip simultaneously elevates both the wine and food.”

As a pioneer and entrepreneur, Debi had a remarkable influence on the culinary scene in her hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa during the past several decades.

It has been said that the tallest tree in the forest never stops growing, and similarly, one should never cease to grow their expertise. Debi is a passionate student of wine and all things culinary. She is a Cape Wine Master, South African Sommeliers Association (SASA) Level 2 Sommelier, Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Certified Educator, Cape Wine Academy (CWA) lecturer, Sommelier’s Academy lecturer and regular contributor to wine websites, podcasts and publications. She was inducted into the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne at their inaugural African Chapitre Gala and is a graduate of Michael Fridjhon’s Wine Judging Academy.

Her love for travel combined with her exceptional wine knowledge created opportunities for her to judge wine and food competitions worldwide and now she is known in the culinary community as an independent consultant and lecturer. She is currently a Stage 2 Master of Wine Candidate.

Over the years, Debi presented outstanding tastings at Restaurant Mosaic at the Orient including a Chateau Y’quem tasting across seven decades and an incredibly memorable 38 vintage Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical. Debi believes that the best food and wine experience is always accompanied by knowledgeable, professional and attentive service. This approach is one of the things that make her a phenomenal addition to the Château des Tesnières team as Wine Director.

“I am so excited to be joining the Restaurant Mosaic at Château des Tesnières team and look forward to working with Chef Chantel curating an outstanding beverage selection, managing the cellar, providing guests with unparalleled service, and hosting marvellous tastings