Taste of London launches the Taste Wine Awards

In a bid to complement its indulgent menu of Michelin starred food, the UK’s most popular restaurant festival, Taste of London, announces its first ever Taste Wine Awards.

An official celebration of its most diverse range of wines to date the awards will take place on the eve of the festival at the official preview night, where chefs, press and celebrities will rub shoulders in London’s Regent’s Park (Wednesday 15th June). Sponsored by London’s premier eating out guide, Blue Tomato, the Taste Wine Awards will be a chance for the most celebrated wines of 2011 to take centre stage.

Over 75 wines will be assessed and judged in a series of blind tastings ahead of the event lead by Taste of London’s wine expert, Neil Philips. Having worked with the event for a number of years, Philips insists that the time is now right to celebrate the multitude of vinous delights represented at this year’s show.

“The quality and diversity of wine producers exhibiting at Taste of London this year is unprecedented with producers like Freixenet, Laurent Perrier, Berberana and George Duboeuf setting the bar extremely high. Chapel Down will be flying the flag for English wines with old and new world wines well represented including New Zealand’s St. Clair Family Estate, South Africa’s Beyerskloof, Spain’s Chivite and Chateau Civrac from France.”

The three categories for the Taste Wine Awards 2011 includes:

Taste of Summer Wine Award
The ultimate wine to be drinking this summer

Foodies Wine Award
Wines which demonstrate the structure, flavour and textural qualities for great food-matching

Indulgence Wine Award
Wines which are luxurious treat for the palate


The Taste Wine Awards will be announced alongside the annual Best in Taste Awards, where iconic dishes from each of the 40 restaurants involved for 2011 will be judged by a panel of revered critics, with the winner announced ahead of the show. Last year’s winning dish, Pigs Trotters by Adam Byatt of Trinity restaurant, sold out in record time and became the most talked about dish at the four day festival.

For more information about Taste of London visit www.tastefestivals.com/london
 
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Notes to Editors

Taste of London is celebrating what is arguably its best restaurant line-up to date, totaling an impressive eleven Michelin stars. Scott’s, Le Caprice, Petrus, Skylon, Gauthier Soho and Bocca di Lupo / Gelupo are just a handful of new restaurants involved for 2011, promising to delight over 50,000 visitors across the four days.

Restaurants at Taste London 2011
Asia de Cuba • Awana • Barrafina • Benares • Bentley’s • Bocca di Lupo / Gelupo • Chef Collin Brown • Club Gascon • Corrigan’s Mayfair • Fino • Fouronine • Gaucho • Gauthier Soho • Kai Mayfair •   Launceston Place • Le Caprice • Le Gavroche • L’Anima • L’Etranger • Maze • Melati • Opera Tavern • ORA • Paramount • Petrus • Quo Vadis • Refettorio • Rhodes 24 • Roux at The Landau • Satay House • Scott’s • Skylon • Suka • Tamarind • The Cinnamon Club • The Modern Pantry • The Ritz •  Yauatcha • York & Albany • 

Taste of London visitors can dine from 40 of the capital's top restaurants, try and buy from 200 food and drink producers, enjoy fine wine tasting and watch some of the world's greatest chefs demonstrate their skills live on stage.

150 speciality food and drink producers are expected to delight and inspire 50,000 visitors at the event alongside live cooking demonstrations and interactive features sponsored by Waitrose, AEG, Meet Jamaica and Peugeot.

New for 2011 is The Secret Garden which will be tucked away in an exclusive enclave of Marylebone Green. The beautiful gastronomic oasis will play host to a line of world class chefs including Silvena Rowe, Gary Rhodes, Michel Roux Jr, Chris Galvin, Theo Randall and Jacob Kennedy and provide a stage for the much anticipated British BBQ Championships where 18 of the UKs most renowned chefs including Tristan Welch (Launceston Place), Paul Merrett (The Victoria) and Atul Kochhar (Benares) will battle it out on the coals to impress a line-up of revered food critics.

British Airways is once again on board and will be offering some first class service at its Exec Club Lounge whilst Masterclasses with Laurent-Perrier, Estrella and San Pellegrino will introduce guests to an indulgent tasting experience.

Taste Festivals has set a new benchmark for food and drink events worldwide. In 2011 there will be 14 Taste Festivals across the world all based on the flagship event, Taste of London. Taste of London runs from 16th – 19th June in Regent’s Park, London. Tickets are on sale now.

Pre-purchased Ticket Prices
Standard (entry only)                                                                                £22.00    
Child (entry only)                                                                                      £12.00       
Premium (entry + £20 of Crowns)                                                            £38.00       
VIP (fast track entry + VIP area, glass of champagne & £20 of Crowns)    £55.00
   
Laurent-Perrier Masterclass (VIP benefits + entry to one LP Masterclass)    £75.00
Secret Garden Pass:
(Secret Garden benefits + canapés, glass of champagne & £20 of Crowns)    £95.00
                                              
Crowns are the official Taste of London currency used to purchase food and drink consumed at the event.