Harpers French Wine Awards celebrate champions in the UK trade

By Erin Smith

Published: 22 October, 2014

The second annual Harpers French wine awards were held at the conclusion of yesterday's France Summit 2014 in London and recognised those people and business which are championing French wines in the UK trade.

All finalists and winners in the awards were chosen by their peers, and in some cases competitors, from the votes and nominations Harpers received from its judging panel of leading French wine players, distribbutors, commentators, consultants, journalists, sommeliers, cirtics and MWs working in the UK. The more nominations you received the better the chance of winning.

Here are the 2014 winners of the Harpers French Wine Awards:

The finalists included Terravina, Alimentum and Les Mirabelles for Best Restaurant/Wine List for French Wine (Regional) which was sponsored by Bureau Interprofessionel des Vins du Centre. The winner was Alimentum.

Alimentum AlimentumWinner of Best Restaurant/Wine List for French Wine (Regional) which was sponsored by Bureau Interporfessional des Vins du Centre category was Alimentum

Club Gascon was the winner for Best Restaurant/Wine List for French Wine in London. The award was sponsored by Bureau Interprofessionel des Vins de Bourgogne. Other finalists included The Square Restaurant, Green Man & French Horn and the Greenhouse, Mayfair.

The Sampler took home the trophy for Best Independent Merchant for French Wine (three stores or less). Other finalists included Grape & Grind, Amps Fine Wines, Oundle and Taurus Wines.

The Sampler The SamplerThe Sampler won Best Independent Merchant for French Wine (three stores or less)

Cambridge Wine Merchants was honoured with the award for Best Independent Merchant for French Wine (over three stores), which was sponsored by Les Grands Chais de France. Other final nominees included Ellies Cellar and Laithwaite's. This was second year in a row that Cambridge Wine Merchants won the award.

Cambridge Wine Merchants Hal Wilson, Cambridge Wine MerchantsCambridge Wine Merchants won Best Independent Merchant for French Wine (over three stores), sponsored by Les Grands Chais de France

Hal Wilson of Cambridge Wine Merchant said: "I am quite chuffed that we won the award. It is great to see the work that the team does is recognised in the trade."

Georges Barbier of London was recognised as Best Distributor/Supplier for French Wine, which was sponsored by Conseil des Vins du Médoc. The other finalists included Daniel Lambert Wines, Les Caves de Pyrene and Thorman Hunt & Co. The judges awarded a special Highly Commended award for Daniel Lambert Wines.

Georges Barbier of London Victoria Barbier of Georges Barbier of London picks up her trophy Georges Barbier of London won Best Distributor/Supplier for French Wine, sponsored by Conseil des Vins du Médoc

Winner of Best Restaurant/Wine List for French Wine (Regional) which was sponsored by Bureau Interporfessional des Vins du Centre category was Alimentum

Waitrose won Best Supermarket for French Wine, which was sponsored by InterLoire. The other two supermarket finalists were Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury's.

Waitrose, France Summit Anne Jones of WaitroseWaitrose won Best Supermarket for French Wine sponsored by InterLoire

Laithwaite's won a new category that was added this year, Best Online/Specialist Retailer for French Wine, which was sponsored by Sud de France. Lajestic Wine and the Wine Socitey were the other two finalists.

Tim Atkin MW was awarded Best French Wine Writer/ Critic which was sponsored by Côtes du Rhône Crus. Stephen Brook and Matt Walls were the other two final nominees.

Tim Atkin MW Tim Atkin MWTim Atkin MW won Best French Wine Writer/ Critic sponsored by Côtes du Rhône Crus

Gerard Basset OBE MW MS won Best French Wine Ambassador/ Communicator which was sponsored by Plaimont Producteurs. Richard Bampfield MW and Tim North were the other two final nominees.

Gerard Basset OBE MW MS Gerard Basset OBE MW MSGerard Basset OBE MW MS won Best French Wine Ambassador/ Communicator, sponsored by Plaimont Producteurs

Anne Burchett, managing director of Sopexa UK, was honoured with the Harpers Special Achievement award which was in recognition of the tireless work she has done in sharing her passion for French wine with the UK trade. Richard Siddle, editor of Harpers Wine and Spirit, said: "Our winner is someone who is almost over qualified when it comes to knowing how to sell and promote French wine in the UK. She is a great personality, a great dancer, a great communicator, enormous fun and is massively passionate about French wine and making it a winning category in the UK wine trade."

Anne Burchett, Sopexa UK