The wine industry is forever lambasting itself for not being closer to the consumers it wants to buy its wines. Well with the People’s Choice Wine Awards producers, importers and retailers have the chance to find out what the great British wine drinking public really think of their wines.
Awards for the people, summed up by Private Eye cartoonist Tony Husband and one of the judges for the People’s Choice Wine Awards
There must something in the water for The People’s Choice Wine Awards, which today announces the shortlist for its finalists for the 2019 competition. For the competition, now into its second year, saw an jump of 157% in entries and the fact there were three times the number of companies submitting wines shows it is starting to hit a chord with an already busy wine tasting and competitions calendar.
This year’s awards saw wines entered from across the wine retailing spectrum including supermarkets, independents, importers, distributors and direct from producers themselves.
The Judging
Keen amateur wine drinkers are at the heart of the People’s Choice Wine Awards
The People’s Choice Wine Awards stands out because this is a competition that is decided not by the usual closed shop of wine trade professionals, wine educators, and Masters of Wine. But it gives a very loud and real voice to the millions of consumers who are out there buying and drinking wine every day of the year.
Yes, it does include some wine experts as well, but most of these are only involved at the later stages of the competition. The first round of judging saw amateur judges picked up from what was over 200 applicants. These were wine enthusiasts who could prove on paper they knew enough about wine to give a considered opinion. Some had formal WSET qualifications and also included food and drink bloggers and those involved in local wine clubs.
Each judging table included a wine trade representative and a friendly industry ‘host’ to explain the process and to answer questions (without influencing the judges). All wines were tasted blind without knowing what the grape variety was or the price.
It was only in the second round of judging when some more familiar trade faces were introduced including The Wine Show’s Amelia Singer, wine blogger and restaurateur, Mike Turner, Sorcha Holloway, founder of #ukewinehour, and a number of wine journalists including Peter Ranscombe from Scottish Field. Each were billed as being ‘friendly consumer wine champions’.
They were joined by two WSET diploma students who had won a competition run by WSET Global and three ‘supertasters’ selected as the best amateur judges from Round 1.
Judging process
The judging process also makes this competition stand out as different from its peers:
- The judges are asked to rate each wine using a five step scoring system.This includes ‘would you buy it yourself?’ as the awards want to drill down to exactly what the consumer is thinking and whether the wine is something they would choose or recommend to a friend. Most importantly the judges are asked if they feel the wine adequately fits the category into which it was submitted. Therefore providing great potential feedback for suppliers, producers and retailers.
- The categories are focused more on wine drinking occasions than by country, region or style with categories such as ‘Girls’ Night In’, ‘One Man and His Barbeque’, and ‘Pizza Night or ‘Food Friendly Wines -Red for Easy Weekday Meals’.
What was interesting was that the scoring between the professionals and amateurs was largely similar.
Here are the “supertaster” consumers who were chosen from the first round of judging to take part in the second round
The Finalists
The finalists in each category are listed below with the winners being announced at a special ceremony to be hosted by Amelia Singer and independent wine merchant, Kate Goodman of Reserve Wines at The Comedy Store, Manchester on February 25.
Each of the finalists will be sent an e-certificate specially created by Private Eye’s cartoonist Tony Husband who was also one of this year’s judges.
GIRLS NIGHT IN
Invivo Wines: Graham Norton’s own Sauvignon Blanc (2018)
Iceland: Château de Champteloup, Brut
Fitz Wine: FITZ (2017)
Treasury Wine Estates: Blossom Hill, Pale Rosé
OUT OF THE ORDINARY (SPONSORED BY THE BUYER)
South East Wineries Ltd: Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard, Rosé Brut (2013)
Waitrose: Villa Blanche Terret Blanc (2017)
The BIB Wine Company: Weingut Sraka Blaufränkisch (2017)
Concha y Toro: 1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel Fermented Zinfandel (2016)
BOXING CLEVER
Off-Piste Wines: Most Wanted Sauvignon Blanc Bag in Box
The Wine Society: Domaine Jaume Côtes-du-Rhône (2016)
Concha y Toro: Isla Negra Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz (2017)
FABULOUS FIZZ – BEST CHAMPAGNE
Asda: Asda Extra Special Louis Bernard Vintage Champagne (2007)
Champagne Jacques Chaput: Jacques Chaput Blanc-de-Noirs (2010)
The Wine Society: The Society’s Champagne Brut NV
Over 200 consumers applied to be on the judging panel
FABULOUS FIZZ– BEST SPARKLING WINE UK
Waitrose: Leckford Estate Brut (2013)
The Wine Society: The Society’s Exhibition English Sparkling Wine
Lyme Bay Winery: Lyme Bay Winery Sparkling Rosé (2014)
FABULOUS FIZZ – BEST SPARKLING WINE REST OF WORLD
Louis Latour: Cremant de Bourgogne Brut
Rude Wines: Rude Prosecco Brut DOC
Seckford Agencies: Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir (2017)
FOOD FRIENDLY WINES-RED FOR LIGHT MEALS
Wakefield/Taylors Promised Land Shiraz (2017)
Rude Wines: Albert Bichot Coteaux Bourguignons(2015)
The Wine Society: The Society’s Beaujolais-Villages (2017)
FOOD FRIENDLY WINES-RED FOR EASY WEEKDAY MEALS
Sir Ian Botham’s new wines have received some shortlistings
Iceland: Rabo de Gallo
Ian Botham Wines: The Botham All Rounder Cabernet Sauvignon (2017)
Treasury Wine Estates: Lindeman’s Bin 50 Shiraz (2017)
FOOD FRIENDLY WINES – RED FOR HEARTY MEALS
Berkmann: Masi Campofiorin (2014)
ASDA: Orbitali Amarone Della Valpolicella (2013)
The Wine Society: The Society’s Exhibition Rioja Reserva (2011)
Seckford Agencies: The Boxer Shiraz (2016)
FOOD FRIENDLY WINES-WHITE FOR LIGHT MEALS
Invivo Wines: Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (2018)
Iceland: Doubtful Sound Sauvignon Blanc
Seckford Agencies: The Edge Pinot Gris(2017) @LarryMcPinot (Escarpment)
Ian Botham Wines: The All Rounder Chardonnay (2017)
FOOD FIRENDLY WINES-WHITE FOR AROMATIC/ASIAN CUISINE
The Wine Society: The Society’s Exhibition Alsace Gewurztraminer (2013)
Aldi: Exquisite Collection Clare Valley Riesling (2017)
Concha y Toro: Cono Sur Bicicleta Gewurztraminer (2017)
Wakefield/Taylors: St Andrews Chardonnay (2017)
The categories are chosen more by the occasions when the wines would be drunk than the styles or countries
FOOD FRIENDLY WINES – WHITE FOR LIGHT MEALS WITH SAUCES
Rude Wines: Michel Fonné Riesling Tradition (2015)
Concha y Toro: Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier (2017)
Treasury Wine Estates: Wolf Blass Yellow Label Chardonnay (2017)
BLOW OUT
Il Colle Srl Azienda Vitivinicola: Colle Baio
Berkmann: Famille Brocard Chablis (2017)
Treasury Wine Estates: Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling (2017)
Wakefield/Taylors: The Pioneer Shiraz (2014)
The Society’s Exhibition Barolo (2014)
HEAVY DUTY
The Wine Society: Blind Spot Rutherglen Muscat
Raymond Reynolds: Vinhos Barbeito-Malvasia 5yr old Reserva Madeira @irunroca
Raymond Reynolds: Sivipa-Moscatel de Setubal (2015)
PARTY CENTRAL
Off-Piste Wines: Most Wanted Pinot Grigio Pink Fizz (Cans)
Treasury Wine Estates: 19 Crimes Red Blend
Rude Wines: Escada Touriga Nacional (2016)
BARGAIN BUYS
Concha y Toro: Isla Negra Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon (2017)
Concha y Toro: Vina Maipo Merlot (2017)
The Wine Society: Viña Santico Carmenère (2017)
ONE MAN AND HIS BBQ
Domaine of the Bee: Grenashista (2016)
Wakefield/Taylors: St Andrews Shiraz (2016)
Wakefield/Taylors: Jaraman Shiraz (2017)
The Wine Society: The Society’s Exhibition Pinotage, Stellenbosch (2015)
SWEETS FOR MY SWEET
Gem Wines: Eleganza (2016)
Seckford Agencies: Stanley Noble Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc (2014)
The Wine Society: The Society’s Exhibition Sauternes (2015)
WAR OF THE ROSÉS
Invivo founders, Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron with TV chat show host Graham Norton: finalists in the People’s Choice Awards
Invivo Wines: Graham Norton’s Own Pink by DesiGN Rosé (2018)
BIB Wine: Domaine of the Bee ‘Bee Pink’ (2017)
Rude Wines: Domaine de Pellehaut Family Réserve Rosé (2017)
Concha y Toro: Adorada (2017)
PIZZA NIGHT
Asda: Asda Extra Special Primitivo (2016)
Cellier des Dauphins: Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Red (2017) @LesDauphins_UK
The Wine Society: The Society’s Barbera d’Asti Superiore (2015)
BEST WINE RETAILER: Online vote
BEST INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT:
The Whalley Wine Shop, Whalley, Lancashire
Lancaster Wine Company, Lancaster
The English Wine Collection, Devon
BEST SUPERMARKET:
Aldi
Waitrose
Morrisons
Booths
- The People’s Choice Wine Awards was created in 2017 by Janet Harrison of Cracking Wine. Janet is qualified to an advanced level (Level 3) from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and is part way through her Diploma. Janet hates wine snobbery and the awards were set up to accurately reflect the change in profile of the average wine drinker in the UK. If you want to follow up with her please go to janet@crackingwine.co.uk or on social media at @PCWineAwards.
