2023-2024 IRISH WINE SHOW STAR AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

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