Decanter Retailer Awards

(by Peter Richards MW)

It’s not easy selling wine in the UK right now. So it’s always good to have a chance to celebrate those who do an excellent job in the face of this adversity.

The Decanter Retailer Awards celebrate the best in the business. As chairman of judges, it was my privilege to hand out the gongs at the recent prize-giving ceremony, the headlines from which are as below.

Congratulations to all those singled out for commendation. Thanks to Decanter and my brilliant judges Stephen Brook, Alan Cheeseman, Christelle Guibert and Matt Walls.

You can read more about the awards both in the forthcoming (November) issue of Decanter magazine and also via this news piece on the Decanter site.

And if you have a brilliant local wine merchant, do let us know or encourage them to enter for next year.

DECANTER RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2015

Supermarket of the Year

Winner: Asda

Runner up: Marks & Spencer

National Wine Merchant of the Year

Winner: The Wine Society

Runner up: Oddbins

Large Independent Wine Merchant of the Year

Winner: Bottle Apostle

Runner up: Tanners

(Shortlist: Bottle Apostle, Tanners, Corks Out, Vagabond, Woodwinters)

Small Independent Wine Merchant of the Year

Winner: Uncorked

Runner up: South Downs Cellars

(Shortlist: Handford, Highbury Vintners, Le Vignoble, James Nicholson, Salut, South Downs Cellars, Uncorked)

Specialist – Burgundy

Winner: Goedhuis

Runner up: Howard Ripley

Specialist – Bordeaux

Winner: Bordeaux Index

Runner up: Nickolls & Perks

Specialist – Germany and Austria

Winner: Howard Ripley

Runner up: Newcomer Wines

Specialist – Italy

Winner: Vini Italiani

Runner up: Lea & Sandeman

Specialist – Spain & Portugal

Winner: Highbury Vintners

Runner up: Prohibition Wines

Specialist – Australia and New Zealand

Winner: The New Zealand Cellar

Specialist – Americas

Winner: Roberson

Specialist – South Africa

Winner: Handford

Judges’ Choice Award

Salut