The FM Wine Business Awards, now in their second year, were conceived to provide focus and recognition to those within the industry going the extra mile to deliver business results. The emergence of the new South Africa saw healthy deregulation of our wine industry and with it a massive surge in the amount of wine farms and producers entering the arena. There are no fewer than 15 “wine awards” in the country, and until the FM Wine Business Awards all were focused squarely on the product inside the bottle. The constant quest for quality and product excellence is no bad thing. But as any savvy producer will tell you, a wine decorated with a plethora of awards that remains unsold in the cellar doesn’t pay the rent. So who has been excelling in marketing, branding, packaging, supply-chain management and all the other crucial facets in a successful wine business?

Competition in each category was fierce this year. Entries were nearly double that of the inaugural competition (2008) and the standard of work submitted superb.

“It’s interesting to see, that once these Awards were launched and under way, how the old saying “competition is good for business” has so clearly played out in the industry” remarked John Woodward, a partner in the Awards.

Douglas Green as new entrants this year will be congratulating themselves on a triple-win,scooping “On-Trade Business Person”, and “Best Trade and Best Consumer Campaign”.

Makro secured “Retailer of the Year” for the second year running, and also remaining on the winners board by convincing Judges their business was the “Independent Retailer of the Year” was The Vineyard Connection.

Meridian Wine Merchants (known to many Wine Show visitors by their “Cool Wines” banner) were new entrants this year and walked off with the prestigious “Wine Company of the Year” and then doubled their delight by bagging “Best Logistics”.

Last years double-winners Kleine Zalze also remained firmly in the winners circle by retaining “Export Star”. The Land of Hope Trust again won “Best Sustainable BEE Deal”.

The full array of winners are below. The Wine Show congratulates all of them and wishes them a very lucrative 2010, and the best of luck for next years FM Wine Business Awards!

Personality Awards
Wine Personality of the Year Madame May Elaine de Lencquesaing Glenelley	Young Achiever Elmari Swart Cheviot Publishing
Brand Manager of the Year Robert Jorgensen La Vigne	On-Trade Business Person Pieter Terblanche DGB
Marketing Awards
Best Trade Campaign DGB	Best Consumer Campaign DGB
Best Design & Packaging Graceland Vineyards	Best Launch Golden Kaan
Business Awards
Best Logistics Meridian Wine Merchants	Retailer Award Makro
Independent Retailer The Vineyard Connection	Wine Company of the Year Meridian Wine Merchants
Export Star Kleine Zalze	Best Sustainable BEE Deal Land of Hope Trust