Sparkling Wine Review Tasting Panel Strengthened Further With Addition of two More Masters of Wine

LONDON, August 24, 2011 -

The Sparkling Wine Review is delighted to announce that the highly regarded and extremely knowledgeable Richard Bampfield MW and Sarah Jane Evans MW are joining the panel of tasters for 2011.  The Review, which is now in its second year, brings together some of the world’s leading tasters in a thoroughly innovative assessment exercise.

Commenting on the new additions to the panel, Mike Florence, manager of the Sparkling Wine Review, says: “With their vast tasting experience and great understanding of the trade, Richard and Sarah Jane will be a great asset and undoubtedly provide an invaluable contribution for those submitting wines to get detailed technical and commercial feedback on their wines”

This technically led review process is aimed at producers wanting to develop or launch new products, review existing product quality or re-assess product positioning or packaging.  

To understand better the needs of English-speaking markets, each entry receives its own Benchmark Report to provide insight for the producer on how to align the product to meet those needs.  Subject to producer approval a summary tasting note and score will be published on the SWR website www.sparklingwinereview.com

Mike continues…  ”Benchmarking your wine through an independent third party is a powerful way of assessing quality and value.  If sparkling producers want to see how they are positioned in terms of quality; are considering changing packaging and/or wine style to compete more effectively in this market, the Sparkling Wine Review is the answer.  Nothing like it exists in the market place.  It’s not about praising or criticising a wine, but providing constructive feedback so wine and packaging can be tweaked for greater success in this important market.  

Our tasters are chosen for their knowledge of sparkling wine; they are some of the foremost experts in sparkling wine in the world.  We aim to provide a balanced viewpoint: the final assessment will be undertaken by a qualified winemaker and wine journalist, working in tandem.”

The deadline for entries and samples is fast approaching for this year’s Sparkling Wine Review. To take part, submit your entries by 16^th September.

For more information about the Review and how to enter by the 16^th September, go to the website: www.sparklingwinereview.com or call Mike Florence on +44(0)20-7164 2113 / +44(0)7811-196209.

Notes to editors

Richard Bampfield MW - Richard was European Champagne Ambassador 2009 and is currently Chairman of the Association of Wine Educators. He became a Master of Wine in 1990 and now works in public relations for Yvon Mau in Bordeaux and Albert Bichot in Burgundy. Other clients include Dom Perignon Champagne, Leiths School of Food and Wine and the English Wine Group.

Sarah Jane Evans MW - Sarah Jane is an internationally recognised journalist and author with a special interest in taste and flavour.  She was Associate Editor of BBC Good Food magazine for over a decade, and during that time was also President of the UK Guild of Food Writers. She passed her MW in 2006, gaining the best overall marks in the Theory papers. Today she is one of the Regional Chairs of the Decanter World Wine Awards, and was formerly a Panel Chair at the IWC.  She writes for consumer magazines and specialist wine publications including Decanter, and hosts wine tastings internationally. She is currently Deputy Vice Chairman of the IMW and a member of the Gran Orden de Caballeros de Vino.

*The organisers of the Sparkling Wine Review are:

• Litmus Wines - Sam Harrop MW, John Worontschak and Mike Florence
• Wineanorak.com - Dr Jamie Goode
• Proven Communication - Bryony Wright and Rachel Child

For further information, please contact:

Rachel Child/Bryony Wright, Proven Communication, Tel: +44(0)117-924-9303 or Rachel.child@provencommunication.co.uk / bryony.wright@provencommunication.co.uk

Or

Mike Florence, Tel: +44(0)20-7164-2113, +44(0)7811-196209 or mike@litmuswines.com

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