Wine Buyers Awards

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Celebrating the UK’s best professional wine buyers

At London Wine Fair we strive to recognise the UK wine buyers who are shaping and driving our industry with the decisions they make daily. So in 2020 we launched the first-ever Wine Buyers Awards – a competition designed to identify and reward excellence in wine buying, across all sectors. After hosting these Awards digitally, we are excited to present the awards live at the London Wine Fair 2023.

The Wine Buyers Awards provide recognition for the UK’s best professional wine buyers across the spectrum of the trade. They acknowledge buyers’ influence in creating trends, the value, quality, or pure innovation offered in their wine lists or ranges.

The awards are centred around a robust and credible judging process, headed up by Chris Losh - former editor of Imbibe, founder of Sommelier Wine Awards, former editor of Wine International, and shortlisted for Louis Roederer Feature Writer of the Year. He will be joined by a hand-picked panel of distinguished and experienced judges from the industry, including former senior group buyers.

By winning or being shortlisted you are demonstrating your career excellence, enhancing your venue or store’s reputation, and helping inspire the next generation of the industry.

KEY DATES Deadline for entries: 20th January 2023 Shortlist revealed: At LWF 2023 Launch Party - 28th  February 2023 Awards Ceremony: At LWF - Tuesday 16th May, 1pm Centre Stage

Awards Categories

Supermarket and Multiple Awards

Supermarket/Multiple wine buyer

For buyers for supermarkets or multiple outlets

Supermarket/Multiple category wine buyer

For buyers for supermarkets or multiple outlets who show excellence in a specific category/area of focus

Sponsored By Supermarket/Multiple wine buyer sponsor

Online Specialist Wine Buyer Awards

For anyone who buys for direct-to-consumer online wine retail

Sponsored By Online Specialist Wine Buyer Awards sponsor

Independent Merchant Awards

Large Independent Merchant Wine Buyer

Above £750,000 annual turnover.

Small Independent Merchant Wine Buyer

Below £750,000 annual turnover

Restaurant and Wine Bar Awards

High Street Chain Buyer

Above 30 sites

Restaurant Buyer

Under 29 sites

Sponsored By Restaurant Buyer  sponsor

Pub Awards

Large Chain Group Buyer

Above 30 sites

Pub Buyer

Up to 29 sites

Rising Star Award

A professional wine buyer (under 35) from any buying sector who is deemed to be outperforming their contemporaries and demonstrating innovation.

Winners will also be considered from entries to other categories

Sponsored By Rising Star Award sponsor

Judges