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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