The 2009 Diners Club Winelist Award winners were announced
at a ceremony held at various venues throughout South Africa
honouring the finest restaurants and their wine lists in
the country.
Highly regarded for two decades by both the restaurant and
wine industries, the Diners Club Winelist Awards inspire
and reward food and wine-serving establishments to consistently
improve the wine lists presented to their patrons. Earlier
this week Diners Club announced the regional winners in
KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg, followed by Cape Town today.
The National Best Winelist Award winners in the various
categories are:
• Best Winelist: Maze at the One and Only
• Best Platinum: Jardine
• Best Gold: Tuscany Beach
• Best Silver: (joint winners): Boulders Beach and
Casa Toscana
• Best Wine Steward/Sommelier: Pearl Oliver –
Catharina’s at Steenberg Hotel
• Best New Entry: Ben’s on the Beach
Presenting the awards in the Western Cape, Jane Ledger,
Diners Club’s regional manager commented on Diners
Club’s continued support of the hospitality industry
through these awards. ‘Diners Club is committed to
the industry we serve and by extension the quest for service
excellence to our members’.
The number of entries remains on the increase nationally,
with award categories catering for the ultimate in fine
dining, through to the more informal family eatery. The
significant number of newcomers this year bears testimony
to the fact that restaurateurs value the recognition these
awards bring as well as their influence on members of the
public.
Judge, Lannice Snyman says, ‘As the Diners Club Winelist
of the Year Awards mature, they create an environment of
informing restaurateurs of what a good wine list should
be, and we are seeing entries that are guided by the marking
system. Going forward, guests can trust award-winning restaurants
of providing them with a wine selection that is special
and suited to their needs. A win-win situation!’
Diners Club congratulates all winners, and a special word
of thanks to all entrants for their continued efforts in
improving the standard and variety of wines on offer in
South African restaurants.
Diners Club also wishes to extend its appreciation for the
generous hospitality of the establishments where each of
the regional ceremonies took place.
• Zimbali Golf Estate, KZN - 14th September 2009
• The Grace Hotel, Gauteng - 16th September 2009
• The Vineyard Hotel and Spa, Western Cape -18th September
2009
Wine lists are judged on content, balance, suitability
and presentation.
Restaurants that go the extra mile when compiling their
wine lists, ensure that their wines are in harmony with
the food style of their establishments, include innovative
cultivars from a variety regions and a good balance of wines
between the respected large companies, as well as boutique
and small production wineries.
The 2009 panel of judges included:
• Catherine Boutel-Coakley - Senior wine judge
• Myrna Robins – Author, food and wine industry
doyenne
• Lannice Snyman – Publisher, food writer and
renowned restaurant judge
• Ntsiki Biyela - Award winning winemaker
• Kim Maxwell – Food and wine writer
• Arnold Vorster – Sommelier & product ambassador
for Graham Beck Wines
• Ginette de Fleuriot - Cape Wine Master
• Dr Jim Coakley – Canadian academic and waiter
trainer
• JP Rossouw - author of the Rossouw’s Restaurant
Guide ( Independent Guide to eating in South Africa).
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