Olivier Dauga expands Prix Raisin award

Published: 15 November, 2012

Bordeaux wine consultant Olivier Dauga has announced that his Prix Raisin award will be increased to include marketing and financial services in 2013.

Prix Raisin is the latest initiative from Dauga which aims to help those taking their first steps in Bordeaux wine production. His aim is to champion little-known wines from the region that offer high potential and find it hard to stand-out amongst the highly acclaimed Grands Crus.

In April 2012 Dauga joined forces with Jean-Pierre Xiradakis, owner of La Tupina restaurant in Bordeaux, to create the award. This original initiative is based on a blind tasting competition focusing on wines retailing at under five euros and produced by winemakers aged under 40.

For one year the winner receives free consulting services by Dauga, two new barrels from Varron cooperage, distribution help by the negociant Ricaud Dussarget and listings in five restaurants selected by Dauga and Xiradakis. In 2012 the prize was awarded to Fréderic Borderie of Château Les Gravières de la Brandille, AOC Bordeaux Superieur, for his 2010 vintage. From April 2013, the prize will include marketing and financial advice as part of the winner's prize.

He said: "Bordeaux is so often associated with high-end expensive wines, when actually there are hundreds of excellent wines out there to be enjoyed now and at really reasonable prices."

Since he began working as a consultant 20 years ago, Dauga has been advising clients in his native Bordeaux, the south of France, Champagne, Provence, Morocco and the Ukraine.

He is now begun an online series of his travels featuring wine merchants who are happy to offer advice, restaurants with exceptional wine lists, fascinating markets, interesting bars and other hidden gems at olivierdauga.com and in video form on facebook.com/createurdevins.

Printer friendly version