Sommelier India Wine Competition Results Announced. 18 Wines Win Gold

New Delhi, Delhi, November 23, 2009 /India PRwire/ -- The 2009 Inaugural Sommelier India Wine Competition Awards were announced at a Gala Dinner on 20 November 2009 in Mumbai at The ITC Grand Central.

As Master of Ceremonies, David Banford, Director of The Wine Society of India introduced Steven Spurrier as the Chairman of the Sommelier India Wine Competition to a glittering gathering that included wine producers, winemakers, importers, hoteliers, restaurateurs and wine lovers. The Sommelier India Wine Competition is the third competition of which Spurrier is chairman. The other two are the UK based Decanter magazine's World Wine Awards and the Japan Wine Challenge. As Publisher of Sommelier India - The Wine Magazine and co-chairman of the Competition, Reva K Singh announced the names of the 18 wines that won Gold medals. (The complete list of winners is available at http://www.siwc.in)

Magandeep Singh then conducted a successful auction of the competition wines for the charity Magic Bus which provides life skills for needy children in India.

The competition as a whole was a resounding success, with 55.5% of the more than 400 international and Indian wines entered receiving recognition by way of a gold, silver, bronze or commended award. "I think it's bloody marvelous," said a visibly elated Spurrier.

The wines were expertly judged by a prestigious panel of 18 judges who combined, both, expertise and deep understanding of the Indian palate.

"The Sommelier India Wine Competition has been superbly organized from top to bottom. The judging conditions were perfect," said Spurrier, who is a veteran of the world's largest wine competitions.

Co-Chairman Reva Singh added, "I am delighted with the participation of the wineries and importers and that so many wines were entered. Wine competitions are democratic and everyone has a chance of winning. It's not only the big names that win. The results will be of enormous use to Indian consumers."

The main sponsors of the Sommelier India Wine Competition were Autohanger (Dealer for Mercedes Benz in India), Kingfisher Airlines, Cadbury Bourneville, Grape to Glass (Riedel), and Vacu Vin. The competition was organized jointly by Sommelier India - The Wine Magazine and The Wine Society of India who's objectives are the organisation of wine tastings, educational programmes and the supply of exceptional quality wines. Winning producers and importers can purchase bottle stickers to promote their wines. Sommelier India Wine Competition posters are also available for sale. The complete results are available at http://www.siwc.in