CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STAR AWARD 2023 WINNERS!
2023-2024 IRISH WINE SHOW STAR AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
IRISH DRINKS SECTOR AT RISK AS IRELAND CONTINUES TO BE A EUROPEAN OUTLIER ON ALCOHOL TAX
IRISH EXCISE ON WINE STILL HIGHEST IN EU
The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has awarded its annual Irish Wine Show Star Awards to 54 wines this evening. The annual event, now in its 22nd year, was hosted at the Morrison Hotel in Dublin. The winning wines from the Irish Wine Show Star Awards will be available to consumers from NOffLA outlets across Ireland.
At the event, NOffLA also expressed the disappointment of its members that Ireland continues to levy the highest excise on wine across the EU and UK. NOffLA hopes to see a reduction in excise duty as part of Budget 2024, which will help ease the high cost burdens experienced by many independent off-licences in the last year.
NOffLA, along with the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) called for a 7.5% reduction in alcohol excise levels in Budget 2024, supported by a further 7.5% reduction next year to bring Ireland’s alcohol excise regime in line with European levels and to also help protect the commercial viability of businesses within the Irish drinks sector in an increasingly challenging trading environment.
Speaking at the Awards, Cathal McHugh, Chairman of NOffLA said: “We are excited to honour the outstanding wines that NOffLA members sell across the country and that our wonderful customers enjoy. I want to congratulate all of the winners this evening and thank everyone who submitted an application this year.”
“Unfortunately, Irish drinks sector businesses are burdened with the highest levels of alcohol excise in the EU and UK, and excise increases from a decade ago remain in place and continue to impact these small, independent businesses. We hope that an excise reduction will be included in Budget 2024 tomorrow, given the increasingly uncertain economic conditions these businesses now face.
“It is also particularly disappointing given that with Minimum Unit Pricing coming into effect early last year, which now safeguards against the retailing of alcohol at dangerously low prices, Ireland’s punitively high excise levels are no longer justified from a public health perspective.”
In excess of 600 wines were submitted to the Star Award adjudication panel of NOffLA judges and independent wine journalists. Points were awarded on the basis of appearance, smell, taste and value for money criteria, and the winning 54 were selected as the best wines from key suppliers across a number of price categories
Each of the winning wines will be sold in NOffLA member outlets across the country and will be recognisable by distinctive Award symbols on each bottle. In the pre-Christmas period NOffLA members will promote the Irish Wine Show Star Awards 2023-2024 Collection as ideal Christmas gifts, in a variety of special gift packs.
2023-2024 GOLD STAR AWARD WINNERS
Category Wine Company
Old World White under €12 Hans Baer Riesling 2022 Ampersand Wines
Old World White under €15 Remy Pannier Cepage de Loire Sauvignon 2022 Ampersand Wines
Old World White under €20 Gabel Riesling Trocken Organic 2022 Febvre Wines
New World White under €12 Santa Rita Estate Reserve Semillon 2017 Bibendum Ireland
New World White under €15 Growers Touch Sauvignon Blanc 2022 MCM Spirits & Liqueurs
New World White under €20 KONO Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Mackenway Wines
Old World Red under €12 Rioja Vega Semi Crianza 2022 Ampersand Wines
Old World Red under €15 El Perdiguero Crianza 2020 Mackenway Wines
Old World Red under €20 Portia Crianza Tempranillo 2019 Richmond Marketing
New World Red under €12 Carmen Premier 1850 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Bibendum Ireland
New World Red under €15 Nuevo Mundo Cabernet Sauvignon, Organic 2020 Febvre Wines
New World Red under €20 Cabernario No.8 Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Bibendum Ireland
Rosé under €15 Alpha Zeta 'R' Rosato Veronese 2022 Liberty Wines Ltd.
Sparkling under €25 Villa Conchi, Cava Brut NV Tindal Wine Merchants
Champagne under €60 Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV Liberty Wines Ltd.
Non-Alcoholic Red Under €15 Zero-Point-Five Pinot Noir NV Mackenway Wines
Non-Alcoholic White Under €15 Leitz Eins-Zwei-Zero RieslingNV Mackenway Wines
Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Under €15 Faber Sparkling RoséNV Ampersand Wines
White Wine of the Year 2023-2024
Gabel Riesling Trocken Organic2022 Febvre Wines
WINE OF THE YEAR 2023-2024
Portia Crianza Tempranillo2019 Richmond Marketing
The Irish Wine Show Star Award Winners 2023-2024. Call in to your local NOffLA Member store to pick up your FREE guide to all the winning wines!!
