The Vancouver International Wine Festival announced this years trade competition winners at Celebrating Excellence: The 10th Annual Awards Lunch, presented by ContainerWorld Forwarding Services Inc., on Friday, March 1. The awards, which are sponsored by W. H. Puddifoot Ltd., honoured those professionals who contribute to our regions exceptional wine and food culture.
SPIRITED INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL (SIP) AWARD
The Spirited Industry Professional Award honours an individual who makes significant contributions to the sales, service or promotion of wine in British Columbia. The eighth annual SIP Award goes to industry legend Sid Cross. Sid travels the globe as a wine and food writer and educator and volunteers his time to numerous culinary causes. Sid is honorary president of the International Wine & Food Society and judges competitions like the Canadian Wine Awards and Canadian Culinary Championships. He is internationally recognized for his exceptional palate: he is an officer of Frances Ordre du Merite Agricole; a wines committee chair of the International Wine and Food Society in London, England; and the only Canadian to be honoured as a Membre dHonneur of the LAcademie du vin de Bordeaux.
SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The 13th annual Sommelier of the Year Award recognizes outstanding wine knowledge and wine service. The Sommelier of the Year is awarded based on votes by key members of the industry and is included in the May Restaurant Awards issue of Vancouver Magazine. This years award goes to sommelier Samantha Rahn. Samantha was trained at the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and previously worked at Banffs Maple Leaf Grill & Lounge, where she earned the restaurant prestigious accolades such as Wine Spectators Best of Award of Excellence. Now wine director at Whistlers famed Araxi, Samantha is passionate about wine, using her knowledge and years of experience to craft the restaurants acclaimed wine list.
WINE LIST AWARDS
Celebrating the best food and wine pairings in the business, restaurants throughout British Columbia and Alberta have been recognized for creating wine lists that complement their establishments unique menu and concept. Candidates submitted their wine and menu lists, and were then visited by judges who reviewed their programs. The top restaurants were awarded Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, or commended with an Honourable Mention. The Wine List Awards are sponsored by Vancouver Magazine.
METRO VANCOUVER
Platinum
Blue Water Cafe
Cioppinos Mediterranean Grill
Wine Room at Joey Bentall One
Gold
Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar
Chambar
CinCin
Hawksworth Restaurant
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
MARKET by Jean-Georges
Nicli Antica Pizzeria
Salt Tasting Room
Tableau Bar Bistro
West
YEW restaurant + bar
Silver
Bao Bei
Cibo Trattoria and Uva Wine Bar
Edible Canada at the Market
Provence: The Wine Bar
The Observatory
Zest
Bronze
Le Gavroche
Lift Bar Grill View
The Beach House
Honourable Mention
Fable Kitchen
Gramercy Grill
Raincity Grill
The Fish House in Stanley Park
WHET
WHISTLER
Gold
Alta Bistro
Araxi Restaurant
Rimrock Café
Silver
The Grill Room at Fairmont Chateau Whistler
VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND
Gold
Vis à Vis wine + charcuterie bar
Silver
Hotel Grand Pacific
Nautical Nellies
Stage Wine Bar
Bronze
Il Terrazzo Ristorante
Veneto Tapa Lounge
Honourable Mention
The Grand Hotel Nanaimo
OTHER BC
Gold
The Restaurant at Painted Boat (Madeira Park)
Silver
Emerald Lake Lodge (Field)
La Bussola (Kelowna)
Local Lounge & Grille (Summerland)
CALGARY & OTHER ALBERTA
Platinum
Cilantro
Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro
Vin Room Mission
Gold
The Ranche Restaurant
Vin Room West
Silver
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Rush
Honourable Mention
Bar C
BLIND TASTING CHALLENGE
On Wednesday February 27, 2013, wine trade and service professionals, culinarians, and non-professional connoisseurs alike competed in the Blind Tasting Challenge. They blind tasted seven wines and identified them using the Wine and Spirit Education Trusts Systematic Approach to Tasting. This year the Blind Tasting Challenge winners were Wendy Spicknell (consumer) Murray Bancroft (culinarian) and Chris Turyk (trade).
from a press release from the Vancouver Wine Festival.
