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UK food and wine competition launched
A food and wine competition has launched in the UK promising to raise consumer engagement among the UK’s 28 million wine drinkers.
What Food What Wine? will see wine experts such as Gerard Basset MW MS determine which wine goes best with Britain’s top 10 dishes, including chicken tikka massala, bangers and mash, and fish and chips.
Launching next month, the competition, run by the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), will invite UK producers to take part alongside wines from the New and Old World. Judges will only know if the wine retails for more or less than £10.
Basset, crowned Best Sommelier in the World 2010, will be joined on the judging panel by Saturday Kitchen regulars Peter Richards MW and Susie Barrie MW.
Richards said: “The concept is a simple one. The aim is to help wine drinkers experiment with confidence when it comes to finding wines to go with their favourite dishes.
“It’s a completely level playing field for wines from all over the world.”
Paul Medder, senior project manager at Wine Intelligence, said: “In recent years only price and promotion have influenced wine consumers. What Food What Wine will help encourage consumers to stop and think about wine.
“Food matching can seem daunting; the competition is a positive way to democratise this skill with dishes everyone can relate to.”
Other judges include Christine Parkinson, group wine buyer at Hakkasan, and Guardian wine columnist Fiona Beckett.
Judging will take place between 27-28 June.
Lucy Shaw, 28.03.2011