After weeks of deliberation and with a few of the Jamaica Observer Food Awards judges gaining extra pounds, the winners for all categories were finally announced this past Monday evening at Vale Royal.

The award for best wine list in a hotel went to Royal Plantation – Ocho Rios.

The award for best wine list in a restaurant went to Wine With Me – Montego Bay.

As a reminder, a good wine list should have a wide selection of wines that complement the menu at a range of prices along with appropriate information that will allow the restaurant’s guests to easily make a choice.

The areas highlighted above formed the basis of the criteria by which all the lists were judged. We wanted to be as scientific as we could while handling such a subjective topic. The list with the highest score won the category.

How we did it

We leveraged information from international sources on how wine lists are ranked and rated worldwide. The research indicated that four key areas must be addressed adequately for a wine list to be taken seriously. These are highlighted in the statement above and in more detail as follows:

Format and Presentation – This category speaks to looks, layout and how easy it is to find something on the list. More specifically, five points were awarded if the list had (a) Tasting notes; (b) Clearly defined categories; (c) Correct spelling/User- friendly layout; (d) Vintages; and (e) Appellation, – that is, where the wine was made. A point is lost for each criterion not present.

Selection and Variety – Wine experts in the USA and Europe believe that for a list to be considered, one needs to offer a minimum of 60 selections in order to just barely cover the major wine regions and wine styles available in the global market. Five points were awarded if the list five major wine regions; (d) a minimum of six major wine varietals; and (e) additional wines of interest specific to the menu. A point is lost for each criterion not met.

Functionality of the list or “Pair-ability” – This speaks to how the wine selections complement the menu. This might be the most subjective category on the list, where full marks would have been given for a wine list that had a pairing for every item on its menu. Since we did not have all the menus on hand, most of the nominees received similar median scoring.

Price and Quality for value. A good wine list should have a reasonable balance between low-priced (30%), mid-priced (50%) and high-priced wines (20%). Three points were awarded if the nominee met this balance. Two points were awarded for quality for value – we compared prices for three or four of the same wines that were on the other lists by category.

So there you have the details.

A number of readers have suggested that the award should be for “Best Wine Experience” – more than having a good list, which has knowledgeable staff, has the correct stemware and serves the wines at the correct temperature. We hear you loud and clear and we are in fact considering this for next year, so please visit all the nominees’ locations and send in your comments on your experience at these and any other locations that you visit.

The other hotel nominees were The Caves, Negril; Half Moon, Montego Bay; Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios; Rockhouse, Negril; Round Hill, Montego Bay; The Ritz Carlton, Montego Bay.

The other restaurant nominees were Jewel of India, Kingston; Marguerites, Montego Bay; Red Bones, Kingston; Rib Kage – Braemar Avenue, Kingston.

I would like to thank Betco Premier Limited for sponsoring these wine list awards. At the Betco booth on Monday night, all eyes were on the bottle of world-famous Penfolds Grange that stood tall on the wine rack. Those in the know kept coming back to see if they would open it.

The wines I enjoyed at The Observer Food Awards

At the Betco booth, I was able to taste a bottle of 2004 Ferrari-Carano Trésor. It was divine. Ferrari-Carano presents its finest blend of the five classic Bordeaux varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot – from the best selections of all their vineyards in Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys. Aptly named “Trésor” for “treasure”, the grapes are hand-harvested from dry-farmed, low-yielding vines primarily on their mountain vineyards.

Expansive aromas of blackberry and licorice from the Cabernet Sauvignon pair with the exotic notes of blueberry, cherry and blackcurrant from the Malbec and Petit Verdot to provide the signature of this Meritage blend. With a full-bodied and richly textured tannin profile, this blend exudes a concentrated palate of intense red and blackberries, chocolate and espresso. Upfront silkiness and roundness make for a charming wine now and will drink well for 7-10 years.

A number of the Jamaica Observer Food Awards judges and DeVine Wine Club crew closed the night at Nicole’s Sweet Temptations booth munching on the only thing that was left – their cupcakes, while sipping on Vino Dei Poeti Prosecco from the Lascelles Wines and Spirits booth. This sparkling wine is the expression of happiness and poetry produced with Prosecco grapes harvested slightly earlier than usual to ensure good acidity and structure, from the best fields of the Conegliano hills in the Veneto region of Italy. Gently pressed and fermented at low temperature, the highly fragrant wine becomes a dry, sparkling wine following secondary fermentation. Vino Dei Poeti, literally “wine of the poets”, is named for an annual poetry festival held in the hills that grow these prosecco grapes. The fluid shape of the label depicts the froth gushing from the bottle. Prosecco is an excellent aperitif and suitable both to celebrate and to enjoy any moment of the day.

Cheers! Now go forth and try a few new wines. Please send your wine stories, comments and questions to creckord@gmail.com. DeVine Wine Services is operated by Chris and Kerri-Anne Reckord and its mission is to improve wine appreciation through wine education and events.