The winners of the 2014 Roederer Wine Writers' Awards have been announced at a ceremony in London, with Decanter columnist Jon Bonne among those claiming prizes.
Winners of the 2014 Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards. Jon Bonne is fifth from left. Image credit: Louis Roederer
Bonne‘s The New California Wine won book of the year, beating stiff competition that included the World Atlas of Wine 7th Edition by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson OBE MW.
The other finalists were The Champagne Guide 2014-15, by Decanter contributor Tyson Stelzer, Jura Wine by Wink Lorch and Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine by Tom Stevenson & Essi Avellan MW.
It is the tenth year of the competition, and guests at last night’s ceremony at the Royal Academy of Arts in London were treated to 2006 vintage Cristal as they waited to hear who had won.
‘It’s gratifying to see recognition for what I’ve been excited about for a long time – namely, California finding its identify as a wine culture,’ Bonne, who was regional chair for the US in the 2014 Decanter World Wine Awards, told Decanter.com after winning. ‘The world is waking up to what’s different in California wine today and is willing to celebrate it.’
Bonne’s book has attracted a degree of controversy since it was published. Some have said the idea of a ‘new California’ revolves only around niche wines on the fringes of the state’s wine scene.
But, Bonne, who is wine editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and writes a monthly column for Decanter, has staunchly defended his view.
He told guests at a Roberson tasting in London earlier this year that the new wave of producers in California can no longer be dismissed as a sideshow. ‘We are starting to see more diversity,’ he said.
Other winners included Emma Symington, who was named emerging wine writer of the year for her work on thewinemonkeys.com blog.
The 2014 winners of the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards:
- Artistry of wine award: Adrian Lander – Australia-based photographer and film producer
- Emerging wine writer: Emma Symington – thewinemonkeys.com
- Online wine communicator: Tim Atkin MW – timeatkin.com
- International wine columnist: Nina Caplan – New Statesman
- International wine book: The New California Wine, by Jon Bonne
- International short copy wine columnist: Susy Atkins – Stella Magazine, Sunday Telegraph
- International wine feature writer: Richard Mayson – World of Fine Wine
Written by Chris Mercer
