Winners of Inaugural Wine Pinnacle Awards 2019 Announced at Resorts World Sentosa

SINGAPORE,Oct. 11,2019 -- Winners of the inaugural Wine Pinnacle Awards,presented by Genting Singapore,were announced at its flagship lifestyle destination,Resorts World Sentosa on 10 October 2019. Out of the 27 categories,the Grand Jury award has crowned Domaine Coche-Dury as the recipient of this esteemed accolade. Celebrating the absolute best of this year's showing,the Grand Jury award is specially judged and selected by the Wine Pinnacle Awards Committee from among the winners across all categories.

Award Winners and Committee Members of the Inaugural Wine Pinnacle Awards 2019

The black-tie award ceremony held at the Resorts World Ballroom was attended by distinguished winemakers,top wine professionals and wine critics from around the world. The exceptional gathering of the international wine community in Singapore for the first time at the Wine Pinnacle Awards also marks the beginning of a new and exciting landmark wine event in Asia which is seeing a growing appreciation for fine wines.

A Celebration of Excellence and Diversity

A nomination-based recognition of wines without restrictions on origin or need for submissions or entry fees,the Wine Pinnacle Awards is the first of its kind in the world,providing an independent platform that allows for greater inclusivity. The awards also honour wineries with sustainable practices,young winemakers,and wines that present diversity across a broad spectrum be they old or new world,young or mature,as well as wines from established regions which are currently under the radar.

"As part of the Wine Pinnacle Awards Committee,it is an honour to be among such an impressive group of wine experts and professionals,bringing together a diverse group of winemakers and wines through our collective expertise and experience. It's very heartening to uncover wines that are under-appreciated as well as highlighting the very best wines in the world to give them the recognition they deserve for their quality and merit," shares Ms. Jeannie Cho Lee,Wine Pinnacle Awards Committee member and the first Asian Master of Wine.

"We are excited to be able to recognise and reward those who contribute to this dynamic wine industry. We are learning and already thinking of ways to improve the Wine Pinnacle Awards in the coming years,with a clear goal to provide an authoritative platform to showcase the most deserving wines and wine personalities from around the world," she continues.

Wine Pinnacle Awards Nomination Process

The Wine Pinnacle Awards Committee is comprised of five internationally reputable wine experts namely Ms Jeannie Cho Lee of Hong Kong,Mr Kenichi Ohashi of Japan,Mr Doug Frost of the United States,Mr Oz Clarke of the United Kingdom and Mr Andreas Larsson of Sweden. They were responsible for establishing the nomination structure and formation of a credible jury from different parts of the world,including Asia,the US and Europe,with 33 Masters of Wine and 9 Master Sommeliers among its 54 members. The committee also oversaw the nomination process and ensured its focus on quality and merit. The results are a culmination of the expert opinions of the world's leading wine professionals,from a total of 1,069 nominations received from the jury.

Votes by the jury were gathered by way of a secure and anonymous online nomination ballot. Each category accommodated up to nine nominations,which were later narrowed down to five in the nomination list revealed in August. The jury were invited to submit nominations in sequence of their preference with each nomination carrying different points. Nominees with the highest points are the winners of their category.

This celebration of diversity and excellence is apparent from the 27 award categories that include recognition towards mature wines that are ready to drink such as Best Bordeaux Wine from 1996 and Best Burgundy White from 2008,'Best Organic/Natural Wine of the Year','Best Recent Releases','Best Chinese Red','Best Young Winemaker of the Year','Black Swan','Unsung Hero','Best Friend of the Earth' and 'Hidden Treasures'. The crown jewel is the 'Grand Jury Award' that was determined by the Wine Pinnacle Awards Committee. The winner of this coveted title was chosen from amongst all the winners from the other categories.

The GREAT Wine & Dine Festival from 11 - 12 October 2019

Happening from 11 to 12 October,The GREAT Wine & Dine Festival which is held in tandem with the inaugural Wine Pinnacle Awards will showcase over 400 wines,including some of these award-winning bottles. The festival also has a dedicated zone which features sake breweries from Japan in partnership with the Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association.

Other than enjoying these wines with gourmet cured meats and cheese from Euraco Foods,visitors can also look forward to a smorgasbord of festival exclusive dishes from RWS celebrity chef restaurants,such as newly-minted Michelin-starred table65,Fratelli Trattoria and TEPPAN by Chef Yonemura,along with a first-in-Singapore pop-up dining concept,Los Angeles' cult Lobsterdamus known for their grilled wild-caught Maine lobsters.

Wine connoisseurs and aspiring wine aficionados can look forward to a series of masterclasses on 11 and 12 October 2019. The Wine Committee will take attendees through topics,such as Tuscan wines,varietals unique to Japan and Spain,and the difference between new and old-world wines. Jeannie Cho Lee MW will even go deep into the effects of terroir through a collection of Pinot Noirs from around the world. Each masterclass is ticketed and limited to 25 per class.

Public can purchase tickets to the festival for 11 and 12 October (from S$60 per person) with special rates for Mastercard card holders and RWS Invites members (from S$42 per person) at www.thegreatfestival.sg.

ABOUT RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS),Asia's premium lifestyle destination resort,is located on Singapore's resort island of Sentosa. Spanning 49 hectares,RWS is home to world-class attractions including Universal Studios Singapore,S.E.A. Aquarium,the Maritime Experiential Museum,Dolphin Island and Adventure Cove Waterpark. Complementing the adventure and adrenaline of its theme parks and attractions are six unique luxury hotels,the world-class Resorts World Convention Centre,a casino and the Asian flagship of a world-renowned destination spa. RWS offers award-winning dining experiences and exciting cuisine from around the world across its many renowned celebrity chef restaurants,establishing itself as a key player in Singapore's vibrant and diverse dining scene and a leading gourmet destination in Asia for epicureans. The integrated resort also offers world-class entertainment,from original resident productions to concerts and public shows such as Crane Dance and Lake of Dreams. RWS has been named "Best Integrated Resort" since 2011 for nine consecutive years at the TTG Travel Awards which recognises the best of Asia-Pacific's travel industry.

RWS is wholly owned by Genting Singapore,a company of the Genting Group. For more information,please visit www.rwsentosa.com.

FB: /ResortsWorldatSentosa ; Twitter,Instagram: @rwsentosa ; Blog: www.rwsentosablog.com

ABOUT WINE PINNACLE AWARDS 2019

Organised by Genting Singapore and held at Resorts World Sentosa,the Wine Pinnacle Awards 2019 is a celebration of the world's finest wines. The inaugural event honours mature,ready-to-drink as well as young,recently-released bottles,with a strong focus on current wine trends. Shaping up to be the premium wine event for connoisseurs and beginners in Southeast Asia,it is also the gathering of some of the world's leaders when it comes to oenology. For more information,please visit www.winepinnacle.com.

NOTES

High resolution photographs can be downloaded from this link: https://app.box.com/s/g8829yo364w573ka5cb3e9zdkbda90tw

Full list of results is available on www.winepinnacle.com.

All photographs are to be attributed to Resorts World Sentosa unless otherwise stated.

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