Diners Club Winelist Award Winners Announced

(South Africa, August 01, 2016) An eclectic mix of a 229 restaurants in South Africa – including brasseries and bistros, cafés, destination and fine dining eateries – this week received top honours at the Diners Club Winelist award- ceremonies presented at the different regions across the country.

The Winelists Awards seek out restaurants that have innovative wine lists and are meticulous in offering compatible food and wine menus. In its 22nd year, the Winelist Awards accepted 229 menus that had been submitted by licensed local restaurants.

This year’s awards saw exciting updates, including new judges and judging criteria. The revised criteria include a greater emphasis on suitability, just one of four criteria used to judge the lists. The other criteria are balance, content and presentation. Restaurants that are in step with the contemporary diner’s preferences for good wines by the glass and for wine discoveries were rewarded.

Looking at the quality of this year’s competition, Diners Club Winelist head judge JP Rossouw, publisher of Platter’s by Diners Club SA Wine Guide, pointed to the “pleasing and varied entries” the adjudicators received.
“It gets tougher every year for restaurants to either maintain or evolve their offering to their customers in the fast-paced and demanding culinary business. However, it’s clear, looking at this year’s entries, that many eateries are up to the challenge of innovating and delighting patron’s senses with tailored and relevant food and wine lists.”

Twenty-two restaurants achieved Diamond status, the highest accolade, while 44 restaurants were awarded Platinum. Gold winners tallied 38 and Silver, three.

The Diners Club Winelist Awards acknowledge excellence in participating restaurants in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

How restaurants are judged

Restaurant wine lists are evaluated according to four criteria:

• Content: Content includes the number of wines on the list, number of wines served by the glass, original and innovative choices, and cultivars sourced from appropriate regions.
• Balance: Balance relates to the relationship between modestly and expensively priced wines, overall value, presence of local and imported varieties, and balance between established and new labels.
• Suitability: Suitability measures the suitability of the wine list with the cuisine, as well as the fit with the image of the restaurant.
• Presentation: Presentation is judged according to vintages, regions, accurate information, correct spelling and a clear design that is easy to read and navigate.

2016 Overall Diners Club Winelist Award winners

Overall Winners per region:
1. KZN – Hartford House
2. WC – Aubergine
3. GP – Restaurant Mosaic
4. EC – Henry White’s at Fancourt
Gauteng Diners Club Winelist Award Winners
Diamond Winners
1. Ritrovo Ristorante
2. Priva Gastrolounge
3. Zest Restaurant
4. Restaurant Mosaic
5. Budmarsh Country Lodge
6. Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa
7. Luca’s Ristorante Italiano
8. Cynthia’s Indigo Moon Restaurant
9. dw eleven – 13
10. The Godfather Restaurant
11. Walkersons Hotel & Spa
12. Verdicchio Restaurant
13. Saxon Hotel Villas & Spa
14. Signature Restaurant – Morningside
15. Signature Restaurant – Brooklyn
16. Prosopa Restaurant
17. Heat Grill Room
18. The Sheikhs Palace
19. Capeesh Restaurant
20. Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge
21. Kievits Kroon Country Estate
22. Kimberley Anne Small Luxury Hotel

Platinum Winners
1. The Meat Company Montecasino
2. The Meat Company Melrose Arch
3. Valley Lodge and Spa
4. Milhaus Olympus
5. Milhaus Kyalami
6. Tintswalo at Waterfall
7. Bellagio
8. Wangthai Restaurant
9. Kong Restaurant
10. Chaplin’s Grill
11. Turn n’ Tender Waterfall
12. Turn n’ Tender Vaal Mall
13. Turn n’ Tender Nelspruit
14. Turn n’ Tender Bedfordview
15. Turn n’ Tender Bryanston
16. Turn n’ Tender Midstream
17. Turn n’ Tender Bassonia
18. Turn n’ Tender Parktown North
19. Turn n’ Tender Dainfern
20. Turn n’ Tender Illovo
21. Turn n’ Tender Ruimsig
22. Turn n’ Tender Boksburg
23. Mikes Kitchen Parktown
24. Pigalle Melrose
25. Pigalle Bedford
26. Pigalle Sandton
27. De Hoek Country Hotel
28. Browns of Rivonia
29. Kedar Country Lodge
30. Carnivore Restaurant
31. Vuyos
32. The 16th Lintel @ Kleinkaap Boutique Hotel
33. Villa Bianca
34. Wasabi
35. Pride of India
36. Hemingway’s Restaurant and Wine Cellar
37. La Pentola
38. Geet Indian Restaurant
39. The Hussar Grill – The Grove
40. The Hussar Grill – Morningside
41. Lukimbi Safari Lodge
42. Café 41 – Erasmusrand
43. Café 41 – Eastwood
44. Café 41 – Silverlakes
45. Café 41 – Groenkloof
Gold Winners
1. Casa Bella – Mall of Africa
2. Rissington Inn
3. The Grill Room Restaurant
4. Legends – Sun City Hotel
5. Il Gusto Ristorante
6. Thava Indian Restaurant
7. The Forum Company
8. Lacuna Bar & Bistro
9. Sunnyside Park Hotel – Milners
10. Grappino Bistro
11. Sunnyside Park Hotel – Pound & Penny Pub
12. Orient Restaurant
13. Tony’s Spaghetti Grill
14. Giles Original Restaurant
15. Afro-Boer Baker’s Café
16. Misty Hills Country Hotel
17. Fumo
18. Plaka Eastgate
19. Mezepoli Melrose Arch
20. Plaka Northcliff
21. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Atholl
22. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Brooklyn
23. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Bryanston
24. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Centurion
25. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Dainfern
26. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Emperors Palace
27. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Fairland
28. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Gold Reef City
29. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Hyde Park
30. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Lynnwood
31. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Mall of the South
32. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Montecasino
33. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Northgate
34. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Olympus
35. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Silverstar Casino
36. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Waterfall Corner
37. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Woodhill

Silver Winners
1. Mantovanis
2. Skukuza Cattle Baron
3. Afrique Boutique Hotel
KwaZulu-Natal Diners Club Winelist Award Winners
Diamond Winners
1. Hartford House
2. 9th Avenue Bistro
3. Beverly Hills Hotel
4. Ghost Mountain Inn
5. Fordoun
6. Granny Mouse Country House & Spa
7. The Oyster Box Hotel

Platinum Winners
1. Butcher Boys
2. Alpine Heath Resort
3. Umthunzi Hotel & Conference
4. Three Trees at Spioenkop
5. Market Restaurant
6. Leopard Mountain
7. Grill Jichana
8. Café 1999
9. Giorgio’s
10. Umngazi River Bungalows & Spa

Gold Winners
1. Jayz Grill
2. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Gateway
3. La Pizza Pazza
4. Intaba View
5. Surf Riders café

Western Cape Diners Club Winelist Award Winners
Diamond Winners
1. Karibu Restaurant
2. The Square Restaurant – Vineyard Hotel
3. Vineyard Hotel
4. B’s Steakhouse
5. Ellerman House
6. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
7. Bientang’s Cave Restaurant & Wine Bar
8. Kitima @ the Kronendal
9. Raya Kitchen by Kitima
10. Bosman’s Restaurant @ the Grande Roche Hotel
11. Aubergine Restaurant
12. The Table Bay Hotel
13. Signal at Cape Grace Hotel
14. Meloncino
15. City Grill Steakhouse
16. The Greek Fisherman
17. Bombay Restaurant
18. Equus
19. Azure Restaurant
20. Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve

Platinum Winners
1. Blowfish Restaurant
2. The Victoria Falls Hotel
3. Pierneef á La Motte
4. The Hussar Grill – Grand West Casino
5. The Hussar Grill – Camps Bay
6. The Hussar Grill – Stellenbosch
7. The Hussar Grill – Steenberg
8. The Hussar Grill – Paarl
9. The Hussar Grill – Willowbridge
10. The Hussar Grill – Somerset West
11. The Hussar Grill – Rondebosch
12. The Hussar Grill – Mouille Point
13. The Andros Deluxe Boutique Hotel
14. The George Restaurant @ Romney Park Hotel
15. The Wild Fig Restaurant
16. Myoga Restaurant
17. Rusty Oak Bistro
18. La Pentola Restaurant
19. Rhebokskloof Estate
20. Mint Restaurant
21. Noop Restaurant
22. Alba Easy Lounge Cape Town International Airport
23. At 365 Restaurant
24. Den Anker Restaurant
25. Abalone House & Spa

Gold Winners
1. Taste Bistro
2. Mezepoli Camps Bay
3. Casa Bella – Grand West Casino
4. French Connection Bistro
5. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Belvedere
6. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Blouberg
7. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Camps Bay
8. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Canal Walk
9. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Cape Town
10. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Cavendish
11. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Durbanville
12. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Franschhoek
13. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Hermanus
14. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Knysna
15. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Meadowridge
16. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Stellenbosch
17. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Westlake
18. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Willowbridge
19. Pasti’s
20. Miarestate Hotel & Spa
21. Jonkershuis Constantia

Silver Winners
1. Bertha’s Restaurant
2. Black Marlin
3. Quay Four Tavern
4. Upstairs @ Quay Four
5. Col ‘ Cacchio Pizzeria – Grove Mall NAMIBIA

Eastern Cape Diners Club Winelist Award Winners
Diamond Winners
1. De Oude Kraal Country Estate & Spa
2. Pembreys Bistro
3. Henry White’s Restaurant @ Fancourt Hotel
4. The Plettenberg
5. Head over Hills Luxury Retreat

Platinum Winners
1. The Beach Hotel
2. Pumba Private Game Reserve
3. Ginger The Restaurant
4. Hacklewood Hill Country House
5. The Sands @ St Francis
6. Kitchen Windows
7. Hopefield Country House
8. Su Casa Restaurant
9. The Girls Restaurant
10. Senza
11. La Cantina Restaurant @ Fancourt Hotel
12. The Fat Fish
13. Hunter’s Country House
14. Tsala Treetop Lodge
15. Chatters Bistro
16. The Thistle Restaurant @ The Royal St Andrews
17. Tsitsikamma Cattle Baron
18. The Turbine Boutique Hotel & Spa
19. Dune Ridge Country House

Gold Winners
1. Views Boutique Hotel & Spa
2. Pomodoro Restaurant
3. Gorah Elephant Camp
4. Zinzi Restaurant
5. Addo Cattle Baron

Ed’s Note
Judges
• JP Rossouw (Head judge),
• Benny Masekwameng
• Neil Grant
• Jenny Cryws-Williams
• Kim Hoepfl
• Georgina Crouth
• Lloyd Jusa

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