2012 Decanter World Wine Awards: regional chairs' awards

 The Bleeding lot!

Sign for restaurant

Although the regional and international results from the Decanter World Wine Awards are keenly awaited, it is the awards for the regional chairs that are most coveted generating ferocious competition. Traditionally they were announced during the regional chairs' lunch on the Friday of the competition. However, with the number of wines entered now over 14,000 the awards need all of Friday plus next Monday set aside for some panels to reassess their gold medals and decide on regional trophies, the lunch has now become a Thursday evening dinner.

2012 Regional Chair Awards

Christine MacDonald, new DWWA executive, with thank you bouquet 

 Sarah Kemp announcing regional awards, Steven Spurrier and Giles MacDonogh look on

Richard Mayson (regional chair for Port) won the Woman of the Year Award for 

his ability to multi-task 

Richard now ready for action!

New head chef@Bleeding Heart complex?

John "Golden Roan' Livingstone-Learmonth (regional chair for the Rhône) wins the 2012 easy virtue award for services to Gold Medals

The winners' celebrate...

The humble workers' awards

John 'Golden Roan' Livingstone then announced on behalf of the regional chairs the winners of the alternative awards: 

Anthony Rose (regional chair for Australia) – black teeth award from tasting powerful Ozzie reds

Lack of black teeth award: winner Tom Stevenson (below) who tastes Champagne and Alsace

One of Tony Aspler's (regional chair, Canada) fans for use of plane home

Other pics

Stephen Howse, Decanter's official DWWA photographer

 1940 Yalumba Vintage Special Reserve Tawny

Steven Spurrier very kindly shared on of two bottles of 1940 Vintage 'Port' from Yalumba. Robert Hill-Smith of Yalumba presented Steven with two bottles for his 70th birthday party. One was drunk at the birthday party and we were able to enjoy a small glass of the second which was complex, nutty and still wonderfully fresh. 

One of the tables set for dinner