2021 Irish Wine Show Star Award Winners announced
The winners at the 2021-2022 Irish Wine Show Star Awards, held in the Radisson Blu Golden Lane.
NOffLA awarded a total of 45 wines at its annual Irish Wine Show Star Awards, now in their 21st year and the winning wines will be available to consumers from NOffLA outlets across Ireland.
The Irish Wine Show Star Awards were conceived over 20 years ago by NOffLA to celebrate outstanding wines in a price category (New World Red/White and Old World Red/White – under €10, €15 & €20, Rosé under €15 and Champagne & Sparkling – under €25 and €60).
At the livestreamed event NOffLA echoed calls from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland for a reduction in excise duty of 7.5% in Budget 2022 “to begin to align Irish excise rates with EU levels and to protect the commercial viability of drinks sector businesses post-Covid”.
Irish excise on wine remains the highest in the EU.
“A reduction in excise levels of 7.5% in Budget 2022 would help protect the commercial models of businesses within the drinks sector and help provide an optimal trading environment,” said NOffLA Chairman Gary O’Donovan, who also expressed optimism about the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 with the welcome introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing next January.
He added that he believed that concerns over cross-border trade were unfounded judging by Scotland’s introduction of MUP which left cross-border trade with England unaffected.
NOffLA Vice President Cathal McHugh offered a brief trading update for independent off-licences.
He said that one positive development of the past year had been that members had observed an increasing trend towards shopping local. Retailers were now getting to know better their local customers who come into them for advice on wines.
He also pointed out that the forthcoming Budget is likely to phase out pandemic supports for workers.
Wine consumption was up last year due to it being an exceptional year of trading due to the pandemic, he said, but this is unlikely to be replicated as volumes had been falling in the year previous to the pandemic.
It was also felt that the Government was unlikely to reduce excise unless it felt pressure from other wine-producing countries so NOffLA has been encouraging importers to have their suppliers action this as a matter of priority.
Wine excise reduction will lead to downward pressure on other al products, he believed.
Over 600 wines were submitted to NOffLA’s Star Award adjudication panel of judges and independent wine journalists. Points were awarded on the basis of appearance, smell, taste and value-for-money criteria. The winning 15 were selected as the best wines from key suppliers across a number of price categories.
Each of the winning wines will be recognisable by distinctive Award symbols on each bottle. In the pre-Christmas period NOffLA members are expected promote the Irish Wine Show Star Awards 2021-2022 Collection as ideal Christmas gifts in a variety of special gift packs.
2021 GOLD STAR AWARD WINNERS
| CATEGORY | WINE | VINTAGE | COMPANY |
| Old World White Under €10 | Maximo Blanco | 2020 | Mackenway Distributors Ltd. |
| Old World White Under €15 | Trulli Vermentino IGP | 2020 | Mackenway Distributors Ltd. |
| Old World White Under €20 | Mâcon-Uchizy, Domaine Talmard | 2020 | Tindal Wine Merchants |
| New World White Under €10 | Antares Sauvignon Blanc | 2021 | Ampersand Wines |
| New World White Under €15 | Asymmetric Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc | 2020 | Ampersand Wines |
| New World White Under €20 | Tokara Premium Sauvignon Blanc | 2020 | Mackenway Distributors Ltd. |
| Old World Red Under €10 | Maximo Tinto | 2019 | Mackenway Distributors Ltd. |
| Old World Red Under €15 | Trulli Salice Salentino DOP | 2019 | Mackenway Distributors Ltd. |
| Old World Red Under €20 | Tuella Douro Red | 2019 | Tindal Wine Merchants |
| New World Red Under €10 | Coral Reef Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon | 2019 | Ampersand Wines |
| New World Red Under €15 | Fleur du Cap Pinotage | 2018 | Febvre Wines |
| New World Red Under €20 | Catena Malbec | 2019 | Cassidy Wines |
| Rosé Under €15 | Domaine La Colombette Rosé | 2020 | Cassidy Wines |
| Sparkling Wine Under €25 | Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava | NV | Findlater & Co. |
| Sparkling/Champagne Under €60 | Ferrari Brut | NV | Cassidy Wines |
| Old World White Under €20 | Mâcon-Uchizy, Domaine Talmard
WHITE WINE OF THE YEAR 2021-2022 |
2020 | Tindal Wine Merchants |
| Old World Red Under €15 | Trulli Salice Salentino DOP
WINE OF THE YEAR 2021-2022 |
2019 | Mackenway Distributors Ltd. |
