Diners Club International 2008 Winelist Awards open for entry

The Awards, which are aimed at encouraging food and wine-serving establishments to consistently improve the standards of wine lists on offer, have always been held in high esteem by both the restaurant and wine industry.

Through their submission, entrants will be considered for a variety of awards as explained by convenor of the awards, Michael Olivier: "Michael Bampfield Duggan and I are looking for the restaurateur who really takes trouble in compiling his or her wine list. This year we have restructured the awards and offer silver, gold, platinum and diamond awards.

"There is a national 'Best Wine List' award in each of these categories. We have added some national awards for the first time, a 'Best Restaurant Winelist' - for which the small game lodge list of 20 wines, the family restaurant on the corner and the International Hotel Restaurants all stand an equal chance. Then there's the 'Best First Entry Wine List' and the 'Wine Steward of the Year Award' which will go to fully employed wine stewards. We look forward to receiving many entries this year and to the results being announced in August."

Categories and criteria

There are four judging criteria categories for 2008, namely content (35%), balance (30%), suitability (10%) and presentation (25%).

Content includes the number of wines on the list, number of wines served by the glass, original and innovative choices and cultivars sourced from appropriate regions.

Balance relates to there being a balance between modestly and expensively priced wines, overall value, presence of local and imported varieties and balance between established and new labels.

Suitability measures the suitability of the wine list with the cuisine, as well as the fit with the image of the restaurant.

The category of presentation is judged on whether the wine list shows vintages, regions, accurate information, correct spelling and that the design is clear, and easy to read and navigate.

The judges

The panel of judges includes Clive Torr, Cape Wine Master, Lannice Snyman a well known Restaurant Judge, Food Writer and Publisher, Arnold Vorster - Sommelier, Angela Lloyd, Wine Judge and Wine Writer, Roy de Gouveia, a Board member of Fedhasa, Catherine Bouttell-Coackley, Senior Wine Judge and Wine Trainer, Kim Maxwell wine writer and restaurant critic, 'doyenne of food and wine writers' Myrna Robins as well as newcomer for 2008 Ntsiki Biyela, the award winning wine maker of Stellekaya Winery.

Last year saw over 250 restaurants entering these awards nationally, with restaurants in the Western Cape dominating by winning most of the top awards. This year, Diners Club foresees many more restaurants entering due to the increased list of categories and the varied judging criteria.

"Diners Club recognises and appreciated that our patrons expect and demand a superior wine selection when dining out, and through these awards, South Africans are certain to have a more informed choice and a more enjoyable wining and dining experience as a result," said Jane Ledger, Regional Manager for Diners Club in the Western Cape.

Judging will take place in July and the winners will be announced at awards ceremonies to be held in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town in August.

How to enter

Entry forms are available online on the Diners Club website at wine.dinersclub.co.za and entries can be sent to:
Diners Club Winelist of the Year Awards
PO Box 788
Constantia
7848

Entries can also be hand delivered or couriered to Diners Club South Africa, Seardel House, Alphen Park, Constantia Main Road.

The closing date for entries is 20 June 2008 at 4pm.

For further information, email