CUMBRIA’S cake maker extraordinaire Lisa Smith, owner of Ginger Bakers, Kendal, tripped the light fantastic at the third annual People’s Choice Wine Awards, held at Manchester’s Comedy Store.
The People’s Choice Wine Awards is the only consumer-facing wine awards in the UK and the only national wine competition to have its base outside of London. It’s designed to signpost wine drinkers through a selection of unique categories, which cover ‘wine drinking moments’ such as Food Friendly Wines, Treat Yourself and Fabulous Fizz – Best Champagne.
On the evening welcome drinks were provided by Goosnargh Gin, accompanied by a great range of locally produced foods, served buffet style, including cheeses from New Market Dairy, Altrincham, snacks from Manchester institution, Yang Sing and delicious bakes from Ginger Bakers, Kendal.
After guest had mingled and enjoy a glass or two, the evening’s MC, comedian Steve Royle, got proceedings underway with BBC Food & Drink Presenter Kate Goodman and The Wine Show’s Amelia Singer announcing the finalists before each award presentation.
During proceedings Lisa Smith, head honcho at Ginger Bakers, was invited by the event’s organisers to present the award for the Sweets For My Sweet category. She presented the winning wine, Hermits Hill Botrytis Semillon, De Bortoli, 2016, submitted by Marks & Spencer, with a unique print specially created by award-winning Private Eye cartoonist, Tony Husband.
In the build up to the awards evening hundreds of wines are submitted each year, which are then whittled down as part of a stringent judging process, which takes place over two rounds.
The first round is carried out by non-trade consumers, with a little guidance from industry representatives, who help them through the tasting process. The wines that make it through to the second round are then judged by a hoist of industry professionals; including the like of Kate Goodman, owner of Reserve Wines and BBC Food & Drink Presenter, The Wine Show’s Amelia Singer, Brian Elliott (MidWeek Wines), Peter Ranscombe, Mike Turner (Please Bring Me My Wine) and MW student Sumita Sarma.
Lisa Smith, owner of, Ginger Bakers, said: “It was a real pleasure to be asked to showcase what we do to such a large audience and to be able to present an award as part of the People’s Choice Wine Awards. It was highly appropriate I had the opportunity to present the Sweets For My Sweet category covering dessert wines, especially as consumers are given the opportunity to vote for the wines they like, which is pretty unique. It’s even more impressive when you take into consideration that this is the only National wine award held outside London and long may it continue.’’
