Efforts to improve the reputation of German wines in the UK were boosted this week when £35,000 prize money was shared between three new German wines The cash comes from the German Wine Institute's Marketing Initiative, a competition designed to promote wines which will help rejuvenate the German wine sector in the UK. Cheques were presented to the winners at the London International Wine Fair on Tuesday. Top award of £15,000 went to Almond Grove Riesling 2001 from Binderer St Ursula; Ruppertsberg Riesling Prestige 2001 from Ruppertsberg won £12,000, and Frank and Fresh 2001 from Horst Sauer got an £8,000 boost. The cash has to be used for implementing the wines' marketing plans in the UK. German Wine Institute director Armin Göring said: "In the three years of the competition we have allocated £160,000 to encourage new, contemporary wines to enter the UK market. The initiative is backed by strong national advertising and extensive retail promotions and previous winners have all gained impressive listings." Entries each year have increased and for the 2002 competition the independent panel of judges selected winners from 16 wines. The panel comprised Majestic wine buyer Matt Pym, Waitrose wine buyer Simon Thorpe, The Grocer drinks editor Tim Palmer, Great Eastern Hotel wine buyer Joelle Marti, the wine editor of the BBC Good Food magazine Sarah Jane Evans and Jeremy Haines, managing director of brand consultancy Haines MacGregor. Thorpe said: "The initiative has helped support some great German wines in the UK. "This year's winning concepts showed great promise." {{DRINKS }}

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