2021 Irish Wine Show Star Award winners announced

All the winners at the 2021-2022 Irish Wine Show Star Awards, held in the Radisson Blu Golden Lane

NOffLA calls on government to reduce excise duty in Budget 2022 to begin to align with EU excise levels

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The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has awarded its annual Irish Wine Show Star Awards to 45 wines at its annual event. Now in its 21st year, the winning wines from the Irish Wine Show Star Awards will be available to consumers from NOffLA outlets across Ireland.

At the event which was livestreamed online on Monday, NOffLA again called on the Government to reduce excise duty by 7.5% in Budget 2022, to begin to align Irish excise rates with EU levels and to protect the commercial viability of drinks sector businesses post-Covid.

This is in line with calls from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) as Irish excise on wine remains the highest in the EU; Irish consumers pay €3.19 in excise per standard bottle at 13% ABV.

Speaking at the Awards, Gary O’Donovan, chairman of NOffLA congratulated the 2021 winners, saying: “It is great to be able to celebrate some of the finest products sold by our highly-trained members around the country. As independent, specialist retailers NOffLA members are at the heart of their communities and serve as responsible and highly-knowledgeable local retailers who are committed to excellence both in terms of personal service and the high-quality wines that we offer.

“However, this offering continues to be under serious threat as Irish excise levels impede the drinks sector in Ireland and remain the highest among our EU neighbours,” O’Donovan added. “A reduction in excise levels of 7.5% in Budget 2022 would help protect the commercial models of businesses within the drinks sector and help provide an optimal trading environment.”

In excess of 600 wines were submitted to the Star Award adjudication panel of NOffLA judges and independent wine journalists. Points were awarded on the basis of appearance, smell, taste and value for money criteria, and the winning 15 were selected as the best wines from key suppliers across a number of price categories.

Each of the winning wines will be sold in NOffLA member outlets across the country and will be recognisable by distinctive Award symbols on each bottle. In the pre-Christmas period NOffLA members will promote the Irish Wine Show Star Awards 2021-2022 Collection as ideal Christmas gifts, in a variety of special gift packs.

The 2021 Gold Star Award Winners are as follows:

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