IWSC announces Frescobaldi partnership ahead of the prestigious Annual Awards Banquet 2017

IWSC news

Fri 10 Nov 2017

November 2017 - The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) returns to London on 15th November for its 48th Annual Awards Banquet, kick starting its unique relationship with Frescobaldi. The fine wine producer has been named the official sponsor of the Frescobaldi Trophy, which will be awarded to the Independent Wine Retailer of the Year at the 2017 Banquet.

The partnership will also extend into 2018, seeing the launch of the inaugural The Sommelier Prize 2018. Championing the field of Italian wines, the prize will seek to reward excellence in, and recognise the importance of, the world of the sommelier. The winner will be announced at the Banquet in November 2018 and the award will be open to any sommelier or on-trade wine buyer to enter.

Frescobaldi, imported in the UK by Hallgarten Druitt, is a Florentine family that has been producing fine Tuscan wines for over 700 years, bringing together tradition and innovation across its seven estates. With the goal of maintaining their position as one of the most prestigious Tuscan wine producers, Frescobaldi firmly believes in respecting the local land while focusing on producing the highest quality grapes for its wines.

Marchese Leonardo de’ Frescobaldi says “My appreciation for the IWSC, of which I have been President in 1995, is long standing; I’m delighted to see the Frescobaldi name associated with this great organisation, active over the last 50 year in developing the appreciation of fine wines and spirits, consumed in moderation. The true spirit of our sponsorship is to foster professionalism and wine culture worldwide through the important role of wine retailers and sommeliers”.

Celebrating excellence in the wine and spirit industry, the 2017 Banquet is set to be another show-stopping year of fantastic wines, exceptional spirits and delectable dishes, with a new partnership set to elevate this year’s awards to the next level.

Richard Stoppard, IWSC Group CMO, says “It is a great honour for the IWSC to be collaborating on these prestigious awards with the historic house of Frescobaldi.  Recognising and rewarding excellence in the sommelier field and in the independent wine retail sector is hugely important and we look forward to a long-standing partnership with Frescobaldi to celebrate these categories which are vital to the industry”.

The shortlisted nominees for this year’s Independent Wine Retailer of the Year award are:

  • Lea & Sandeman
  • The Good Wine Shop
  • Christopher Piper Wines

Notes to Editors

For more information on how to enter the IWSC awards please see the IWSC website here.

Details on how the winner of the Independent Wine Retailer of the Year is chosen available on request.

The Frescobaldi estates now include:

  • Castello Nipozzano
  • Castello Pomino
  • Tenuta Castiglioni
  • Tenuta Castelgiocondo
  • Tenuta Ammiraglia
  • Tenuta Remole
  • San Donato in Perano, the latest venture in the Chianti Classico region

Frescobaldi wines are distributed in the UK by Hallgarten Druitt, one of the UK’s leading specialist wine merchants, with over 80 years of experience importing wines from producers around the world, supplying the premium on and off-trade.

About the International Wine & Spirit Competition

  • Established in 1969, The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) was the first competition of its kind, set up to seek out, reward and promote the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Now in its 48th year, The IWSC’s relentless pursuit of excellence underpins every aspect of the competition today
  • The IWSC is set apart by the formidable reputation of its judging process. Panels are made up of carefully selected industry experts including Master Distillers, Masters of Wine, wine and spirit buyers and sommeliers; WSET qualified educators and respected wine and spirit journalists. Every single wine and spirit is blind tasted and assessed on its own merit within the context of its class
  • Currently receiving entries from 81 countries, the IWSC is truly international in its reach and recognition
  • The IWSC’s partners around the world work throughout the year to drive awareness and promote winners to both trade and consumer audiences
  • With 48 years’ heritage, an IWSC Award is recognised internationally as a badge of quality

 

For more information, please contact:

Rachel Watt
W Communications
E: iwsc@wcommunications.co.uk
T: +447963 000 727

Jon Black
International Wine & Spirit Competition
E: Jon.Black@iwscgroup.com 
T: +44203 176 6461

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