Outstanding wine lists have been recognised this past week at the Diners Club Winelist Awards, awarding some of South Africa’s top restaurants at ceremonies in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. The highly converted overall Best Diamond Award went to Restaurant Mosaic at the Orient in Johannesburg for their exceptionally unique list. The picturesque Simola Hotel based in Knysna achieved Best Platinum, while Best Gold and Best Silver were awarded to Lacuna Bistro in Johannesburg and Makaranga in KwaZulu-Natal respectively. For the second year running Ewan McKenzie, of the award-winning La Colombe, won Best Wine Steward. Overall national results consisted of 74 Diamond, 62 Platinum, 65 Gold and 7 Silvers being awarded. 38 restaurants in the Western Cape were awarded a Diamond Award, putting the Western Cape in the regional lead once again this year. Commenting on the accolades, Ebrahim Matthews MD of Diners Club International said, “We congratulate all the establishments awarded in this year’s Diners Club Winelist Awards. Diners Club has a long and proud history of supporting the South African wine industry and the Winelist Awards have become an established benchmark for excellence.” Chaired by veteran wine critic and author Dave Hughes, this year’s judging panel of wine experts included Benny Masekwameng, Masterchef South Africa judge and Executive Chef of the Monde Vino restaurant. They were also joined by the author of independent restaurant guide – Rossouw’s Restaurants, JP Rossouw; leading wine critics, Christine Rudman and Fiona McDonald; co-owner of Winestyle.biz, Nikki Dumas and the head of the Cape Wine Academy, Marilyn Cooper. Wine lists were judged on the basis of their wine selection (35%), how well balanced the selection was (30%), the presentation of the wine list (25%) and the suitability in terms of cuisine offered (10%). Wine lists offering numerous wines at high prices are not what the judges are looking for. Instead, creativity and choice are credited for the enhanced experience they are more likely to provide to patrons. A Silver Award represents a score of between 60% and 70%, a Gold Award between 71% and 80%, a Platinum Award 81% and 90%, and a Diamond Award over 91%. “This year’s Diners Club Winelist Awards entrants have been truly impressive, it’s encouraging to see the exceptional rise in standards year on year,” commented David Hughes. The judges also noted the importance of wine lists that offer wine by the glass, enabling patrons to try a variety of great wines instead of limiting them to just one. Started more than two decades ago, the Diners Club Winelist Awards are a sought after symbol of excellence and achievement among restaurateurs. Patrons also now rely on the Winelist Awards as a symbol of an establishment offering a good selection of wines that are both original and in harmony with the menu. The complete list of 2013 Diners Club Winelist Awards is available on the Diners Club website at www.dinersclub.co.za as well as the hub, http://connoisseurs.dinersclub.co.za/restaurants Full list of Gauteng Diners Club Winelist Awards: Diamond Award Budmarsh Lodge Verdichhio Restaurant & Wine Cellar Signature Restaurant Restaurant Mosaic Ritrovo Ristorante Heat Grill Room Cynthia's Indigo Moon The Raj Indian Restaurant Michelangelo The Raj Indian Restaurant Montecasino Zest Restaurant Villa San Giovanni Restaurant The Godfather Restaurant The Sheikh's Palace Kievits Kroon Country Estate Madikwe Hills Safari Lodge Fairlawns Boutique Hotel Browns of Rivonia Cantare Dinner & Dance Le Petit Sel Sel et Poivre Café del Sol Pigalle Restaurant - Sandton Pigalle Restaurant - Bedfordview Pigalle Restaurant - Melrose Arch Platinum Award Prue Leith Restaurant Walkersons Hotel & Spa Tintswalo at Waterfall Lombardy Boutique Hotel Cybele Forest Lodge La Campagnola Royal Elephant Hotel - Zagora Restaurant Mattanu Private Game Reserve Prosopa Restaurant La Campagnola Royal Elephant Hotel - Zagora Restaurant Mattanu Private Game Reserve Prosopa Restaurant The Forum Company The Michelangelo Hotel Capeesh Restaurant Hemingway's Restaurant & Wine Cellar Geet Indian Restaurant Fumo Villa Bianca Orient Restaurant Turn 'n Tender Bryanston The Victoria Falls Hotel Papa's Restaurant Mezepoli - Melrose Arch Plaka Restaurant – Eastgate Gold Award Slug & Lettuce Rivonia Shangri-La Country Hotel Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Atholl Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Benmore Gardens Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Bryanston Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Emperors Palace Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Fairland Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Atholl (duplicated on list ?) Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Hyde Park Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Montecasino Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Northgate Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Brooklyn Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Woodhill Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Lynnwood Lacuna Bistro Pronto Italian Restaurant Ciao! Restaurant Die Stoep Restaurant & Pub Lucky Rodrigo Café 41 Hazelwood Café 41 Groenkloof Café 41 Eastwood Café 41 Riverwalk Downtown Restaurant Silver Orange Bistro Vivace Lobby Bar and Restaurant De Hoek Country House DW Eleven – 13 Full list of Western Cape Diners Club Winelist Awards: Diamond Award La Colombe Meloncino Greek Fisherman City Grill Steakhouse Bombay Brasserie Indochine Restaurant Aubergine Restaurant Pure Restaurant at Hout Bay Manor Pierneef á La Motte Signal Restaurant Rust en Vrede The Wild Fig Restaurant B's Steakhouse Buffelsdrift Game Lodge Dash Restaurant Karibu Restaurant Jennaviva Bosmans Restaurant @ The Grande Roche The Atlantic Grill - Table Bay Hotel Flavours @ Devon Valley Hotel La Pentola (Hermanus) La Pentola (Pretoria) Wild Peacock Food Emporium Zachary's at Conrad Pezula Azure Restaurant La Cantina - Fancourt The Square Restaurant - Vineyard Hotel & Spa The Garden Lounge - Vineyard Hotel & Spa Ellerman House Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat The Bayside Café Planet Restaurant Panama Jacks Makaron Restaurant Tswalu Kalahari Reserve Pigalle Restaurant - Green Point Den Anker Bientang's Cave Platinum Award Tuscany Beach Restaurant Pembreys Bistro Cattle Baron Bistro - Paarl Hussar Grill Stellenbosch Hussar Grill Rondebosch French Connection Bistro Hussar Grill Greren Point Hussar Grill Camps Bay Hussar Grill Steenberg Village Hussar Grill Willowbridge Mint Restaurant Constantia Uitsig Restaurant Peddlars on the Bend Cattle Baron Grill House Constantia Chatters Bistro De Viswijf Restaurant The Turbine Boutique Hotel & Spa Mezepoli - Camps Bay Plaka Restaurant - Camps Bay Lemonbutta Restaurant Upstairs @ Quay 4 Ginger Restaurant OYO Restaurant & Cocktail Bar Woodall Country House & Spa Simola Hotel Carne - SA Myoga Restaurant Abalone House Caffe Mario La Capannina Gold Award Blowfish Restaurant Pomodoro Restaurant Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Westlake Harveys @ Winchester Mansions Pistachio Restaurant Dish Restaurant @ Inn on the Square 95 Keerom Waterside Bar & Grill Bertha's Restaurant Black Marlin Restaurant Hildebrand Ristorante Surval Boutique Olive Estate Slug & Lettuce Kloof Street Slug & Lettuce Stellenbosch Slug & Lettuce Newlands Monneaux Restaurant Quayside Cabin Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Belvedere Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Blouberg Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Canal Walk Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Camps Bay Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Cape Town Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Cavendish Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Franschhoek Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Stellenbosch Col'Cacchio Pizzeria – Willowbridge Silver Award Quay 4 Knysna Restaurant Rhasody's Easy Lounge (Cape Town) Full list of KwaZulu-Natal Diners Club Winelist Awards: Diamond Award Fern Hill Hotel Ghost Mountain Inn 9th Avenue Bistro Granny Mouse Harvey's Restaurant The Oyster Box Leopard Mountain Hartford House Hotel Izulu Pumula Beach Hotel Umngazi River Bungalows Platinum Award Barbacoa Remos Umhlanga Bierfassl Restaurant & Pub Three Trees @ Spioenkop Plaka Restaurant - Umhlanga Cargo Hold Restaurant Sica's Guest House Dish Restaurant Giorgios Restaurant Fusion World Food Café Gold Award Rhapsody's Easy Lounge (Durban) Col'Cacchio Pizzeria - Gateway The Olive Garden Emdoneni Lodge Alpine Heath Resort Lords of the Manor Mondazur Hotel & Spa The Estuary Hotel & Spa La Pizza Pazza - Kloof African Pride Audacia Manor Restaurant Ile Maurice Silver Award Craft Trattoria Makaranga For media queries contact: Jess Webb - Senior Account Manager, Diners Club SA, jess@bletchleypark.co.za, 082 554 1895