#iwscbestindie Shortlist Announced

Today ,<30^th Aug>sees the announcement of the shortlist for the IWSC Independent Retailer of the Year Award sponsored by PLB.

Customer votes are now closed, and we can reveal the six top scoring Indies to be put forward for judging. The lucky retailers are;

Master of Malt

Reserve Wines

Highbury Vintners

Direct Wine Shipments

Butlers Wine Cellar

JN Wines

Retailers are judged on the quality and diversity of their range, quality of service, including their ability to add value through sharing knowledge and enthusiasm with consumers, and the quality of their display. This year, nominees will also have to show their commitment to engaging customers through social media and other online channels. We will also be taking into account the comments from consumers received through the online voting campaign.

Judging will take place in late September, with the results being announced at the IWSC Annual Awards Banquet.

The Annual Awards Banquet takes place on the 13^th of November, a prestigious gathering of the who’s who in the global wine and spirits industry; the event is a must attend for trade professionals each year. For further information and tickets please email pip.mortimer@iwscgroup.com or visit our website iwsc.net/banquet (check URL!)

Now in its fifth year, the Independent Retailer of the Year Award – sponsored by leading distributor PLB – recognises the role played by independent merchants in encouraging the understanding, and sales, of quality wines and spirits.

Last year the title went jointly to Quaff Wines and Duncan Murray Wines; the year before hangingditch wine merchants, an independent wine specialist in Manchester, picked up the coveted trophy.

This year we received a record number of consumer votes and are proud to announce the top six in no particular order;

Master of Malt; Master of Malt has a proud heritage of over 25 years in whisky retail. They are an online retailer as well as an independent bottler of Scotch Whisky and other wines and spirits.

Reserve Wines; This West Didsbury based independent retailers was our Independent UK Wine Merchant of the Year in 2008.

Highbury Vintners; Independent wine merchant based in Highbury stocks over 1300 global wines, focusing on small producers as well as over 300 spirits and a variety of craft beers and ciders.

Direct Wine Shipments; DWS is Belfast’s oldest independent wine merchant, having traded since 1954. They have a wine warehouse, wine courses, tastings and clubs as well as home deliveries and wholesale.

Butlers Wine Cellar; Brighton’s Butlers Wine Cellar is a family run, independent wine shop established in 1979 trying to break down the snobbish attitude often associated with wine by making their service informative and fun.

JN Wines; James Nicholson Wine Merchant, Northern Ireland, has a range of wines ‘from £4 a bottle to £400’, attracting customers in store and by mail order. They are not just a retailer but also an importer and wholesaler.

Follow the conversation at #iwscbestindie

For more information contact: Harriet Chandler                                                                                             

IWSC Marketing Executive                                         

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3 176 6461                                                      

E:  harriet.chandler@iwscgroup.com                                                   

Editors’ notes: The International Wine & Spirit Competition The IWSC was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs. All entries of wines, spirits and liqueurs are blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary.

PLB PLB is now in its 30th year of importing wines, spirits and beers from around the world. The company has a dedicated team working with UK independent merchants, sourcing and supplying the perfect offering, via a recently revised portfolio of around 350 wines - from entry-level to premium wines both classic and niche – the majority of which are exclusive to this sector.