CVA members win Diners Club International Winelist Awards

Published: 21 Sep 2007

Rodwell House received the prestigious award of "Wine list of the Year, Award of Excellence", together with Catharina's, Cellars Hohenhort and La Colombe. Platinum winners were Buitenverwachting, Uitsig, Peddlars on the Bend and Tarragon

The Western Cape emerged as the province the the most discerning tastebuds, winning 21 more "Awards of Excellence" than Gauteng and 24 more than Kwa Zulu-Natal in the latest Diners Club International Winelist Awards.

The Diners Club Winelist Awards are aimed at encouraging food and wine-serving establishments to improve the standards of their winelists.

The award requires a score of at least 85%, a trained wine steward, an air-conditioned wine cellar and a range of wines with imports which include at least one Champagne (French), a Port (Portuguese), a Cognac (French) plus four foreign table wines (two white and two red).

Judging criteria include: Price; how the wines complement the food, the range of varietals and their origins, plus special features such as auction wines and rarities with vintages; clearly stated corkage policy; wine availability by the glass; description of the wine wines; and the overall impression and legibility of the wine list.