Announcement posted by Palate PR 18 Jul 2019
The NSW Wine Industry Association (NSWWIA), Restaurant & Catering Association (R&CA) and Destination NSW are delighted to launch the NSW SOMMELIER’S WINE LIST AWARDS for 2019.
These
new look awards are dedicated to supporting and rewarding restaurants and wine
bars in Sydney and across NSW that offer their customers a great wine experience
and a range of delicious local wines, showcasing the quality and diversity of
wines being produced in the state of NSW.
Sommeliers
and Wine Managers will be in the running to win the title of ‘2019 NSW
Sommelier’s Wine List of the Year’ in seven different categories: Sydney small
venue (<40 seats), Sydney mid venue (41-99 seats), Sydney large venue
(>100 seats), Regional NSW small venue, Regional NSW mid venue and Regional
NSW large venue. An overall winner will be chosen from these 6 categories.
Along
with a stunning trophy, some great prizes are also up for grabs, including
wine service equipment and a professional wine glass & service consultation
individually tailored to your establishment.
NSWWIA
EO Angus Barnes says, “We are delighted to be involved in a project that
enables us to engage with our state’s most driven and forward-thinking
restaurants and also support the smaller venues that have always displayed a
passion for the home-grown wines of NSW.
The latest research we had commissioned shows an encouraging 28% increase in the listing of NSW wines on our state’s wine lists, meaning we now hold 14% of the wine list’s space. However, there is still plenty of room to grow when you look at a state like Victoria which has nearly double that of its own wines on its wine lists. We believe it is critical for the sustainable future of the NSW wine industry that we must support and be seen prominently on our own ‘local’ wine lists.”
R&CA CEO Wes Lambert adds,
“R&CA is very proud to be co-hosting the 2019 NSW SOMMELIER’S WINE LIST
AWARDS alongside the NSWWIA and Destination NSW. We believe that NSW Sommeliers
deserve to be recognized for their hard work and tremendous skill at creating
the best Wine Lists in NSW!
For the inaugural NSW SOMMELIER’S WINE LIST AWARDS we felt it important to open these awards up to the maximum number of participants so you do not need to be a member of R&CA to enter and there will be no entry fee required! The submission process is now all online, making it very simple and convenient to take part.”
Nominated
restaurants/wine bars will be judged by 2
experienced, independent judges, Mark Baulderstone, Managing Director of Riedel
Spiegelau Nachtmann Australia and award-winning, multi-media presenter Lyndey
Milan, OAM. Mark’s
work with some of the world’s finest wine glasses and a diverse range of
restaurants gives him great insight into the ideal wine experience. Lyndey has
spent the last 30 years traveling around the world of food and wine, and most extensively
through regional NSW, providing an unrivalled knowledge of the produce from our
state.
The judges will assess the wine lists using criteria including
wine list content, presentation, educational content, selection, food and wine
matching, service and NSW wine representation, so it’s not just about the wines
named on the list but also the quality of wine experience given to the
consumer.
Participating restaurants will be invited to a prestigious Awards
Presentation at NSW Parliament House on Thursday 17th October to discover who has
won the 2019 title of NSW Sommelier’s Wine List of the Year.
If
you know of a Sommelier/Wine Manager that is doing a great job and working with
an exciting range of NSW wines, then please nominate them for these awards by
emailing media@nswwine.com.au