Sarah Ahmed – The Wine Detective

Yesterday’s 50 Great Portugese Wines tasting went swimmingly  – great to see so many producers supporting the event and to taste the wines, all together for the first time.  I’ll let the previous incumbent, Jamie Goode, bang the drum for it – some great pics on his blog too here.

Last night a little sadly, though I know he’ll do a great job, I handed over the 50 Great baton and title of Wine Writer of the Year Award to Tom Cannavan of Wine Pages. And last night’s other winners?

Major retailer – Waitrose, runner up, Majestic

Independent retailer – Duncan Murray Wines, runner up, Cambridge Wine Merchants

Restaurant – Ransome’s Dock (London), runner up, Luso (Manchester)

Special Award – Charles Metcalfe & Kathryn McWhirter (see here for details of their great book about food and wine in Portugal)

Coincidentally, I had a fantastic meal at Ransome’s Dock the night before my 50 Great tasting, hosted by Quinta da Falorca, one of whose wines featured in my 50 Great.  I’ll write up my notes of the tasting soon – some lovely wines.  BTW, I spotted that Ransome’s Dock have Quinta do Passadouro White by the glass – a cracker – see here.