Not Your Grandfather’s Wine List Competition

Issue: March 2008
Not Your Grandfather’s Wine List Competition by: Anthony Dias Blue
There are several wine list competitions out there. Who needs another one? What can another competition say that hasn’t already been said? When we at THE TASTING PANEL contemplated starting such a competition, we asked ourselves these and other soul-searching questions. No, the world doesn’t need yet another competition like all the other ones, we decided. What the world needs is a competition that’s relevant, new, a competition for today. So we looked at the other guys and tried to analyze what we could do to improve on and essentially re-invent the wine list competition concept. First of all, we decided that SIZE DOESN’T MATTER. The competition of old gives lots of plaques and testimonials to humongous lists containing thousands of wines—the kind of lists that are inscribed in big leather books that have to be chained to the table. For the most part, we feel, lists like that are garish and self-important, doing more to service the ego of the proprietor than to meet the customer’s wine needs. We decided to go in another direction and reward lists that represent a creative and thoughtful enhancement to the accompanying menu—no matter their size. Of course, we will reward depth and breadth, but a list that represents an unedited buying spree will be less likely to find favor with us. Here are other improvements and differences you will find with THE CRYSTAL BEVERAGE AWARDS: The process will be completely transparent; you will know who is doing the judging and what their credentials are. We think that it is important that, in the beginning, restaurants get to compete within their own locales. Not everyone who enters will win an award; lists will be graded on a point system, and lists that do not measure up will not be selected for an award. This will be the first competition to offer separate awards for by-the-glass programs. Recognizing the importance of spirits and cocktails, this will be the first competition to offer separate awards for cocktail and bar programs. This will be the only competition that will provide feedback; each entrant will learn which steps our professionals feel would improve its list. The award winners will be congratulated and profiled in THE TASTING PANEL, and some will be invited to take part in THE TASTING PANEL’s Fall Media Tour along with winning wines and spirits from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the San Francisco International Wine Competition. We are thrilled that WATERFORD CRYSTAL has joined us in this exciting adventure. This venerable company will be creating the top awards: beautiful, original Waterford Crystal pieces for display in your restaurant. For more information, see page 16 of this issue, or visit www.crystalbeverageawards.com. (Complete rules will be available in our April issue.) If you like our new approach, enter the competition. We look forward to hearing from you.
Back to Top

Issue: March 2008

Not Your Grandfather’s Wine List Competition

by: Anthony Dias Blue

There are several wine list competitions out there. Who needs another one? What can another competition say that hasn’t already been said?

When we at THE TASTING PANEL contemplated starting such a competition, we asked ourselves these and other soul-searching questions. No, the world doesn’t need yet another competition like all the other ones, we decided. What the world needs is a competition that’s relevant, new, a competition for today.

So we looked at the other guys and tried to analyze what we could do to improve on and essentially re-invent the wine list competition concept. First of all, we decided that SIZE DOESN’T MATTER. The competition of old gives lots of plaques and testimonials to humongous lists containing thousands of wines—the kind of lists that are inscribed in big leather books that have to be chained to the table. For the most part, we feel, lists like that are garish and self-important, doing more to service the ego of the proprietor than to meet the customer’s wine needs.

We decided to go in another direction and reward lists that represent a creative and thoughtful enhancement to the accompanying menu—no matter their size. Of course, we will reward depth and breadth, but a list that represents an unedited buying spree will be less likely to find favor with us.

Here are other improvements and differences you will find with THE CRYSTAL BEVERAGE AWARDS:

The process will be completely transparent; you will know who is doing the judging and what their credentials are.
We think that it is important that, in the beginning, restaurants get to compete within their own locales.
Not everyone who enters will win an award; lists will be graded on a point system, and lists that do not measure up will not be selected for an award.
This will be the first competition to offer separate awards for by-the-glass programs.
Recognizing the importance of spirits and cocktails, this will be the first competition to offer separate awards for cocktail and bar programs.
This will be the only competition that will provide feedback; each entrant will learn which steps our professionals feel would improve its list.

The award winners will be congratulated and profiled in THE TASTING PANEL, and some will be invited to take part in THE TASTING PANEL’s Fall Media Tour along with winning wines and spirits from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

We are thrilled that WATERFORD CRYSTAL has joined us in this exciting adventure. This venerable company will be creating the top awards: beautiful, original Waterford Crystal pieces for display in your restaurant.

For more information, see page 16 of this issue, or visit www.crystalbeverageawards.com. (Complete rules will be available in our April issue.) If you like our new approach, enter the competition. We look forward to hearing from you.