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Recognition For Those Making The Most Of Food And Wine
Recognition For Those Making The Most Of Food And Wine
If you get to eat out you may have noticed that some of the restaurants you visit proudly display a framed Diners Club Winelist Award certificate on their window or reception wall.
That's because being able to boast about a Winelist Award is prestigious confirmation that the establishment has a fine and well thought-out wine list, which compliments the menu. And to anyone who has discovered the symbiotic joy of well-matched food and wine, that's a big plus for the restaurant.
The Diners Club Winelist Awards don't only attract restaurants eager to gain recognition for their class and style, they also attract an ever-growing number of patrons who want to take their meal to a new level of enjoyment.
Last week the awards were held at the newly opened 9th Avenue Bistro at the Waterfront in Durban.
The Diners Club Winelist Awards have honoured the best wine lists in the country for over two decades, and they attract restaurants eager to gain recognition for the energy and attention they put into their wine lists. 2019 saw a year-on-year entry growth of over 10% - this reflects that an ever-growing number of establishments and patrons appreciate that the perfect meal is greatly enhanced by a fine wine to match.
This year, 205 restaurants from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, submitted wine lists for judging by a select panel, led by publisher of the Platter's by Diners Club Wine Guide, Jean-Pierre Rossouw.
"It's clear that dining establishments are giving their wine lists ever-more attention, and a trend that I'd really like to applaud is the growing number of wine stewards and sommeliers that curate and present the lists," says Rossouw. "It's also encouraging to note the number of establishments offering a wider choice of wines by the glass."
The Diners Club Winelist Awards are a benchmark for excellence in the restaurant industry and it was encouraging to see as many as 47 restaurants countrywide achieving Diamond status this year.
Diners Club has a long history of supporting the wine industry. The response to this annual competition confirms the high standard of restaurants around the country and the significant choice our cardholders have when it comes to eating out.
KZN Diamond winners were: Hartford House, The Oyster Box, 9th Avenue and Surfriders. Diamond Awards went to: The Big Easyand The Chefs Table. For more information visit https://www.dinersclub.co.za.