We’re thrilled to have been named 'French Merchant of the Year’ at the 2018 Sommelier Wine Awards for our incredible winning range of wines from France in this year’s portfolio.

The Sommelier Wine Awards are the only competition to be aimed solely at the On-Trade. Judged by a panel of top leading sommeliers and on-trade drinks buyers, the competition rewards the best wines available to restaurants, bars and hotels in the UK and beyond. Wines are tasted by over 100 of the best sommeliers and On-Trade palates in the UK.

Group Wine Buying Director Andrew Shaw said of the win, “We’re extremely proud of our award-winning French range, littered with medal-winning wines from every corner of the country, and at every price point. For Matthew Clark’s range to be recognised by the very best sommelier and tasters in the UK as the best French wine portfolio is our testament to the dedicated and hard-working suppliers, both large and small”.

The accolade follows the launch of our 2018/19 Wine List in March, what we believe to be our most diverse and exciting range of wines and Champagnes to date. 175 of our wines also picked up medals at the competition confirming the strength of our portfolio.

Gold medal winners include the Emile Beyer, Eguisheim Gewurztraminer 2016 from Alsace. An exciting new addition to our range this year, it’s great to see the quality of this wine rewarded. Described by judging team leader Angela Reddin as possessing ‘spicy-sweet, floral aromas, dried church flowers and plenty of richness on the palate’, this wine is one of our many wines exclusive to the On-Trade.

From Roussillon, Domaine Lafage, Bastide Sobirana, Rouge, 2015 also scooped gold. It was described by the SWA as “an inevitable Gold to hear our judges speak of it, with Mediterroenean – Wines of the Mediterranean’s Leonie Loudon enamoured with its ‘pure, vivid nose with blackberry and plum, and a very attractive and juicy palate that’s all about the fruit, cut by some spice and dried herbs’”.

We would like to thank the team behind, and the judges of, the Sommelier Wine Awards 2018 and of course our wonderful French producers. 2017 was undeniably one of the most difficult vintages in recent memory. Frosts affected areas like Chablis, whilst hailstorms devastated small areas of Burgundy and Beaujolais, in some cases wiping out the entire crop. Despite these challenges the wineries we work with continue to offer our valued trade customers unrivalled choice, quality and value right across our award-winning French range.

Discover our full range of French wines here or click here to view our 2018-19 Wine List. Don’t forget we’re here to support you with everything you need to ensure that your wine range is a success, from free menu design and print services to staff training.