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Weinhandel Willenbrock from Lingen (Ems) is the winner of this year's specialist trade prize, which is awarded annually by the German Wine Institute (DWI) in cooperation with the trade journal Wein+Markt. The Lüneburger Weinhandlung Wabnitz came second in the competition, followed by "RheinWeinWelt" from Rüdesheim am Rhein.
The jurors of the competition placed particular emphasis on expert advice from qualified personnel. Other evaluation criteria included the appealing and clear presentation of the wines, which should include different grape varieties and come from as many regions as possible. The award-winning specialist retailers had met these requirements in an exemplary manner, as unannounced visits to the site had also shown.
In his laudatory speech for the competition winner, Werner Engelhard, Editor-in-Chief of Wein+Markt, emphasised the top consultancy of the Willenbrock wine store, which also offers its customers innovative events such as so-called Winzer-Battles. "In the extraordinary ambience of a listed former filling station, the Willenbrock couple skilfully stages German wines. Customers can taste and purchase wines from less well-known winegrowers as well as great wines from renowned producers", Engelhard was quoted by the jury as saying.
The second-placed Wabnitz wine shop was praised above all for its impressive breadth and depth of range: "If you are looking for wines from almost all German growing regions, you will find them here", was the jury's verdict. Furthermore, the additional offer of seminars, menu evenings and winegrower tastings as well as the possibility to enjoy many wines by the glass at the wine bar was convincing.
The Rüdesheimer RheinWeinWelt convinced the jury with a range of 160 wines, which have grown over 165 kilometres along the Rhine and can be tasted from wine dispensers. The atmosphere in the former production facility of the brandy producer Asbach was unique, he said. According to the jury, the special shopping experience is rounded off by a wine lounge with regional culinary delights.
In addition to trophies, certificates and plaques, the three winners of the specialist retail prize will receive valuable merchandise vouchers from the competition sponsors "Zwiesel Kristallglas" and "Howasped" as well as vouchers for employee training by the DWI worth a total of 6,000 euros. They will also be appointed to the jury for the election of the German Wine Queen 2019 in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.
(uka / Photo: German Wine Institute)