DWWA 12 Awards: M&S finds China in the Pantry!

2012 DWWA stage logo

View of London Eye through the rooftops from Royal Opera House

 Jubilee Hall, Covent Garden from the upper terrace of the Royal Opera House

2012 Decanter Awards: Presentation of International Trophies and Retail Awards

A few highlights and photos from last night's Decanter's 2012 World Wine Awards awards presentation dinner at The Royal Opera House. This year there were 14,120 wines entered from an ever-widening range of countries now including Turkey and Brazil. Medal-wise Chenin Blanc proved to be the most successful grape variety.     

2012 Retail Awards 

These were judged by a panel headed by Anthony Rose, who was assisted by Fiona Beckett, Tom Cannavan, Allan Cheesman and Peter Richards MW.

Winners:

Supermarket of the year:

M&S with Waitrose as runner-up

National Wine Merchant of the Year

The Wine Society with Majestic as runner-up

London Wine Merchant of the Year

Roberson Wine with The Sampler as runner-up

Regional Wine Merchant of the Year

Hangingditch with Tanners as runner-up 

Specialist Wine Merchant of the Year

Wine Pantry with SA Wines Online as runners-up

Innovative Wine Merchant of the Year

Vini Italiani 

International Trophies 

The 28 international trophies were tasted by a panel headed by Steven Spurrier and assisted by Gérard Basset MW, Stephen Brook, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Andrew Jefford. Here the regional trophies compete against each other in their categories. 

Sadly in the Sweet Wine over £10 trophy the excellent 2010 Chaume from Château de la Guimonière was pipped by an Austrian sweet wine – 2010 Umathum, Trockenbeerenauslese, Scheurebe, Burgenland, while in the Pinot Noir over £10 the 2010 Sancerre Rouge, Paul Thomas lost out to the 2010 TH Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley, Chile. Happily the 2010 Chaume was served at the dinner where it was a little more restrained than it was when tasted in April.  

Interesting that the White Single Varietal over £10 went to the consistent 2010 Alvarinho, Vinho Verde from Deu la Deu. In this category I enjoyed the austere 2011 Assyrtiko Wild Ferment from Gaia Wines on the Greek island of Santorini. 

China again took an international trophy: the Red Bordeaux Varietal under £10 went to Chateau Reifeng-Auzias Cabernet 2010, which is a mainly Cabernet Franc blend. It will be interesting to see whether this proves controversial. Last year's Chinese winner provoked considerable comment.             

Among the many stats quoted on the evening I noted the 300,000 unique users per month that decanter.com attracts. Puts Jim's Loire in perspective! 

  

Pierre Cressard of Vignobles Alain Château, which includes Guimonière

Trick of the light – not two rosés but two golden sweet wines

  The main section of diners

Table reflected on Opera House's glass roof

 Filming winners high up above the dining area

 The busy throng of very efficient servers (above and below) heading to and fro from the kitchens to the tables