Fortnum’s Food & Drink Media Awards shortlist announced

Fortnum & Mason have released their shortlist for its Food & Drink Media Awards competition, writes Olivia Bodle.

The awards were established to celebrate the finest food and drink writers in the UK media. The 10 categories, spanning writers to TV chefs, will be judged by a panel of judges including Peter Richards MW.

In the running for the Drink Book award is Matt Walls’ guide for the layman, Drink Me!, Tony Conigliaro’s contemporary cocktail guide Drinks, Gavin Smith and Dominic Ruskrow’s Whisky Opus along with Jancis Robinson MW, Julia Harding MW and José Vouillamoz’s Wine Grapes, the most comprehensive and detailed guide to vines and grapes available.

The award for Drink Writer is between Roger Protz who writes for Publican Morning Advertiser, Victoria Moore of the Daily Telegraph Weekend, and John Stimpfig of The Financial Times.

Matt Walls is also shortlisted for the Online Drink Writer wine blogger prize, in competition with Helen McGinn’s entertaining Knackered Mothers Wine Club and Juel Mahoney’s Wine, Woman and Song guide to wine and the wine trade in London.

The Food & Drink TV Personality award was open to the British public to vote for the person who has most inspired them to get creative in the kitchen. Over 7000 votes were cast online and in-store at Fortnum & Mason. The winner will be announced at the ceremony on 14 May.