The George of Stamford hotel in Lincolnshire has walked away with the top prize in the Condé Nast Johansens Champagne Taittinger Wine List Awards 2010.

The George’s Chris Pitman scooped a magnum of Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, plus a holiday: a weekend for two in Reims, including a tour and tasting at Taittinger’s cellars.

The judges commented: ‘This list, with individual and comprehensive layout and selections, appeals to the passionate amateur as it does to the serious wine drinker. It is a list you can trust. It has a good long selection of wines by the glass, plus fun bin ends and impressive magnum sections.’

The winners included: Hotels and spas (UK & Ireland) – The George of Stamford; Small Hotels, Inns & Restaurants (UK & Ireland) – The Crown at Whitebrook.

Commendations included: Best newcomer – Braye Beach Hotel; Best Dessert Wine List – Danesfield House; Half-bottle Range – The Cottage in the Wood; Most Informative Wine List – The Cottage in the Wood; Connoisseurs List – Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons; Staff training – The George of Stamford; Innovative Wine List – The Rutland Hotel; Digestif List – Sharrow Bay Hotel; Organic Wine List – The Austwick Traddock; Best Selection of Champagne – Buckland Manor.

* Imbibe readers, meanwhile, are already entering their own lists for the Louis Roederer Wine List of the Year 2010 competition. Entries can be sent by post, email or online. For full details see the feature on www.imbibemagazine.co.uk. The closing date for entries is 28 March.

News item from Imbibe.com, 29-01-2010