Here at London Wine Fair we want to recognise UK wine buyers who are shaping and driving our industry with the decisions they make daily.
So we launched the first-ever Wine Buyers Awards – a competition designed to identify and reward excellence in wine buying, across all sectors. The awards 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.
The judging has now been completed and the shortlist will be announced at the London Wine Fair launch party on the 25th Feb.
KEY DATES Deadline for entries: 20th Jan 2020 Shortlist revealed: 25th February 2020 Awards Ceremony: 19th May 2020 at London Wine Fair
For buyers for supermarkets or multiple outlets
Supermarket/Multiple category wine buyerFor buyers for supermarkets or multiple outlets who show excellence in a specific category/area of focus
For anyone who buys for direct-to-consumer online wine retail
Above £750,000 annual turnover.
Small Independent Merchant Wine BuyerBelow £750,000 annual turnover
Above 30 sites
Restaurant Group Buyer2-29 sites
Above 30 sites
Mid-size Pub Group Buyer2-29 sites
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
Entering the Wine Buyers Awards is simple, and free. Simply choose your category and fill in your initial details. You will then be asked a series of short questions, with space for you to talk about how you buy wine in your role, your audience type, any particular focuses and interests etc.