Friday 26 June 2009

Slotovino awards 2008/9

We celebrate our first year with the following awards and prizes. Congratulations to the winners!

Best Red Wine discovery: ‘Santa Ne’ (Palari), Etna, Sicily. Runner up, Pianetta di Cagnore, Vernaccia Nera 2003, Terreno Ottavi, San Severino, (Macerata), Marche.

Best White Wine discovery: Xerolithia (100% Vilana), Creta Olympias, Peza, Crete. Runner up Quintas de Melgaco QM Vinho Verde, (Alvarinho) Portugal.

Best Rose discovery: Vitkin ‘Israeli Journey’ dry Rose (Syrah, Carignan, Tempranillo and Cabernet Franc blend)

Best UK wine retailer: Joint 1st prize - Les Caves de Pyrene and Wine of Course (Zelas)

Best retailer (rest of world); Astor Wines of New York. Runner up Per Bacco, Milan

Best Consortium outlet Vini Portugal, Lisbon and Porto. Runner up Kiraly Borhaz, Budapest

Most encouraging wine trend; Vin Naturel

Most promising grape: Pugnitello. Runner up Nerello Capuccio

Best airport duty free: Schwechat, Vienna. Runner up: Marco Polo, Venice. (Most disappointing airport duty free: Tegel, Berlin)

Best restaurant wine list: Gramercy Tavern, New York.

Best Sommelier: The Waterside Inn, Bray.

Best wine writer: Carla Capalbo (‘Collio. Fine Wines and Foods from Italy’s North East’ – Pallas Athene).

Best wine newspaper column: Jancis Robinson and Andrew Jefford, Financial Times

Vigneron of the year: Francisco Figueiredo, Colares

Best supermarket: No prize awarded this year.

Best supermarket website: www.waitrosedirect.co.uk

Booby prize of the year: Pub wines

Most depressing marketing name: ‘Berrys’ Good Ordinary Claret’

Best kept wine secret: New York State Wines

Prediction for 2009/10: The tide will turn in favour of lower alcohol levels

Best English wines: White - Fawley Vineyard Bacchus. Red - Chapel Down Pinot Noir. Sparkling - Ridgeview Cuvee Merret,

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