ENTRIES for the newly revamped 2008 Diners Club International Winelist of the Year Awards are officially open and Diners Club International invites all licensed restaurants across South Africa to take part in these prestigious Awards.
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.
Says the 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.”
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.
Entry forms are available online on the Diners Club website at http://wine.dinersclub.co.za and entries can be sent to Diners Club Winelist of the Year Awards, PO Box 788 Constantia 7848 or can 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 at 16:00. Further information is obtainable by sending an email to winelistawards@dinersclub.co.za or by calling Michael Olivier on 082-532-8320.
