Restaurant praised for its variety and pricing of wines

Sam's Brasserie and Bar in Chiswick has been recognised for its wine list at a prestigious awards ceremony in London.

Top wine lists from around the country, and the sommeliers behind them, were recognised at Playboy Club London in the Imbibe 2013 Louis Roederer Wine List of the Year awards.

Now in its fourth year, the Louis Roederer Wine List of the Year saw 250 wine lists from restaurants throughout the UK whittled down to a short list of forty.

General Manager of Sam's, Dorota Kulakowska (second from left) accepting the award for Sam's Brasserie. Pic: Rob Lawson and Imbibe

Announcing Sam's Brasserie as the winner of the 2013 Neighbourhood Restaurant Wine List category the judges said: The one thing you want from a neighbourhood restaurant is an ease of manner – and this wine list is a textbook study in informality and helpfulness. With 30 wines by the glass (many of them by the carafe) it encourages trial. And the pricing was exemplary. There were few entries to this year’s competition that managed to get as many wines sub-£25.

"The mix of ‘safe’ and ‘interesting’ is bang on for its customer base, and the ‘feature’ pages of ‘Sam’s wines of the month’ and ‘Sam’s personal recommendations’ added some nice depth and heartfelt enthusiasm to proceedings. The right length, the right prices, and the right mix of chat and information."

Owner Sam Harrison said: “I am utterly thrilled that we have recently won this award - it is a really lovely pat on the back for all the work my team and I do on our wine list. I say work, but it has always been a great passion of mine. I love sourcing the wines and then putting together a list that I think people will enjoy drinking.

"I get great pleasure from when I travel abroad, actually meet the winemakers and then are able to list their wines in the restaurants - it makes it so much more personal. I was so pleased that the judging panel recognised the value our list offers, the range and interest of wines. I have always believed that wine should be sensibly priced so that people will order and enjoy. We really hope you find something new to try or an old favourite. If you have any ideas for the list then please let us know.”

The award for Wine List of the Year went to The Cherwell Boathouse restaurant in Oxford; the Champagne List of the Year went to two restaurants, Bubbledogs in London and L'Etranger. Hakkasan won the Group Wine List award, while Trullo, London won Italian Wine List of the Year, Trangallan won Spanish Wine List of the Year, Tate Modern won the list for Public Attraction Best Wine List and Bibigo, London won Innovative Wine List of the Year.

November 8, 2013