Young Wine Writer of the Year 2012

Yesterday I finished judging the 33 entries for this year's Young Wine Writer of the Year Award. 33 is a record number for the award now in its 12th year.

I was impressed by the overall standard of the entries and choosing a shortlist of eight candidates was a hard task as there were some very fine pieces of writing from writers of natural talent. The best were those who wrote concisely and amde you want to read on. There is always a temptation to try too hard and some of the entrants fell into this trap. But it is encouraging that there is a pool of talent coming through. 

And the winner is....? I don't know yet. I have sent my list of suggestions in. We will have to see how far they accord with the views of the other judges: 

Circle of Wine Writers: Stuart Walton (chair of CWW0, Charles Metcalfe and Oz Clarke. 

Anova Books (publishers of Oz Clarke): Polly Powell (CEO) and Fiona Holman (editorial director).

Wine Australia.

The winner and the runners up will be announced on the evening of Monday 19th November at Australia House.

The Young Wine Writer Award has been sponsored since 2007 by Pavilion Books – the publishers of Oz Clarke and Michael Broadbent, in association with The Circle of Wine Writers and Wine Australia. The aim of the award is to help develop promising young wine writers.

 Barley Blyton: 2011 Young Wine Writer of the Year

 

Young Wine Writer of the Year 2012 + DWWA tasting

30 or under 30 by the end of this year and fancy a career* as a wine writer? The Young Wine Writer Award has been the launching pad for some successful writers in particular Peter Richards MW, the first winner of the award back in 2001. Prizes include a cheque for £1000 from sponsor Anova Books, who publish Oz Clarke and Michael Broadbent MW, a 14-day all expenses paid trip to the wine regions of Australia from sponsor Wine Australia and a year's membership of the Circle of Wine Writers. 

To win you have to write a 1500 word article on an aspect of wine.  

We had record entry last year with many of a very high quality. The worthy winner of the 2011 award was Barley Blyton. Hopefully the entries will be equally good this year.   

Applications for the Young Wine Writer of the Year Award are now open with a closing date of 30th September 2012. The award is sponsored by Anova Books, the Circle of Wine Writers and Wine Australia. 

Full details on www.youngwinewriter.com   

Barley Blyton (Young Wine Writer of 2011) and Yvonne May (regional director of Wine Australia: UK, Ireland and EU)

* Although writing about wine can be endlessly fascinating, be warned that only a few earn a good living. This should not, however, stop you entering!    

***

Wednesday 27th June 6pm-9pm

An opportunity to taste over 300 award winning wines from the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards. The tasting will be held@Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU. 

Tickets are £18 per person and can be purchased at www.decanter.com/events   

Barley Blyton: 2011 Young Wine Writer of the Year

Barley Blyton 

On Monday night I was able to catch up with Barley, who was just back from LA, and take some photos of the 2011 Young Wine Writer of the Year on the occasion of The Circle of Wine Writers Christmas Party. Virginia Wine were The Circle's hosts this year. The party was held in the magnificent Old Hall of the Hon. Society of Lincoln's Inn in Central London. 

Barley and Steven Spurrier, president of the Circle of Wine Writers 

Barley with Yvonne May: director of Wine Australia – UK, Ireland and Europe

Jade Lucas (on-line communications: Wine Australia -UK) with Barley

The Young Wine Writer Award is sponsored by The Circle of Wine Writers, Wine Australia and Pavilion Books.

Young Wine Writer of the Year 2011: Barley Blyton

Oz Clarke with the two runners up: Matthew Brass (left) and Nicolas Jackson

(Barley Blyton was in LA so unable to be present to receive her prize)

The Circle of Wine Writers is proud to announce the Young Wine Writer of the Year 2011 Award winner as Barley Blyton of Bristol. Ms Blyton won the award with her entry ‘A Journeying Introduction to South America and Her Wines’, winning over more than 25 other entrants.

The Award, now in its 11th year, is sponsored by Pavilion Books (publishers of Oz Clarke and Michael Broadbent MW) and the Circle of Wine Writers, together with Wine Australia. After much deliberation the judges short-listed (in alphabetical order): Barley Blyton, Matthew Brass, Nik Byrne, Tom Constable, Barbara Drew, Nicholas Jackson, Hugh Jones and Sean Tennyson.

This year the judges decided to announce four runners-up as there were so many high quality entries: Matthew Brass, Tom Constable, Nicholas Jackson and Hugh Jones who each received wine presented by Yvonne May, of Wine Australia.

Fiona Holman, Editorial Director of Pavilion Books, said: “This award aims to encourage new writing talent within the world of wine and to provide a real opportunity for some inspiring travel to the vineyards and wineries of Australia. We are looking for wine writing potential rather than extensive knowledge or experience. We had a record number of quality entries this year, which was most encouraging and I am sorry we could not give out more awards. I urge all this year’s entrants still eligible to enter again next year.”

Yvonne May, Director Wine Australia UK-Ireland_Europe, said: “I believe it’s important to support up and coming writers in the wine industry. With the rise in of amateur enthusiasts in the evolving online space we know that to stand out you have to be exceptional, and these writers certainly deliver. Our congratulations to Barley; we can’t wait to read her thoughts on Australia’s winemakers, wine regions and wine. Right now Australian wines are more diverse and exciting than ever, and we know that she will be absolutely buzzing from the trip.”

This year’s winner, Barley Blyton works for Davis Bell McCraith Wines, a wine merchant based in Bristol. Barley has an irrepressible passion for Italian wines. She entered the wine trade after finishing her degree in English and Italian literature where she spent most of her time in northern Italy cultivating her enthusiasm for food and wine. As well as a passion for the classic regions of the world, she has a penchant for Sherry and is now a trained official Sherry Educator. Barley was a shortlisted finalist for The Young Wine Writers Award in 2010.

The prizes for the 2011 winner include a £1000 cheque presented by Pavilion Books and, courtesy of Wine Australia, a two-week trip of a lifetime to the wine regions of Australia and a year’s free membership of the Circle of Wine Writers.

About the Young Wine Writer of the Year Awards

The Awards are aimed at encouraging and supporting new talent in the world of wine writing. While there are many well-established wine writers in the industry today, the Awards provide an opportunity for younger, less established writers to get a firm start in the world of wine. The announcement was celebrated last night at a reception at Australia House.

(photos to be added shortly)