Our Awards

The Decanter Retailer Awards recognises and celebrates the very best wine retailers in the UK. From the best wine shops to national retailers, in-store and online, the awards offer wine drinkers an indispensable guide to outstanding retail experiences across the nation.

Applicants are invited to submit their respective entrance(s) along with supporting evidence ahead of the judging, which is lengthy (June to August) and super-rigid. Everyone goes through a three-round process before final decisions are announced.

Unquestionably, Decanter is the most important, global retailer awards – the Oscars of our industry. With great honour, we are thrilled to be declared Decanter's Best Australian Specialist 2023, an award which we have now won six-years in succession.

‘You feel secure buying from them, they know what they’re doing – the range is fantastic and it was a pleasure using the website,’ said one judge of The Vinorium. ‘Great range and depth,’ said another."

The team and I would like to thank Decanter for continuing to see our magical ‘Aussie’ work – we are so proud. Of course, we must also thank you, our loyal friends and customers who ensure we have the foundations to submit our yearly application.

The Decanter Retailer Awards recognises and celebrates the very best wine retailers in the UK. From the best wine shops to national retailers, in-store and online, the awards offer wine drinkers an indispensable guide to outstanding retail experiences across the nation.

Applicants are invited to submit their respective entrance(s) along with supporting evidence ahead of the judging, which is lengthy (June to August) and super-rigid. Everyone goes through a three-round process before final decisions are announced.

Unquestionably, Decanter is the most important, global retailer awards – the Oscars of our industry. With great honour, we are thrilled to be declared Decanter's Best Australian Specialist 2022, an award which we have now won five-years in succession.

The Decanter Judges said, "Securing this category for the fifth year in a row, north Kent-based The Vinorium ‘lives and breathes’ Australian wine. It is a true specialist, offering more than 370 wines, with a range that’s as exciting as it is diverse. Customer engagement is excellent, sustainability is prioritised, and the company recently invested £100,000 into its new e-commerce platform."

Much of the submission is based on our work during 2021 with an overlap into Q1 2022. Without question, it was the hardest application to submit as the UK standards for Aussie wines is super-high, the competition is more sophisticated with each passing year and the market in which we all work is tough.

Last year we were awarded Decanter's first, Green Champion award. Bravo to Naked Wines who pipped us to the post this year. Very well done to their hardworking team.

The team and I would like to thank Decanter for continuing to see our magical ‘Aussie’ work – we are so proud. Of course, we must also thank you, our loyal friends and customers who ensure we have the foundations to submit our yearly application. We may take a sabbatical next year as we’re dreading the questions.

This morning (6th October 2021) we were awarded Decanter's 'Best Australia Specialist' 2021 – four years in succession.

The results are based on events that took place during 2020, which and given the pandemic, makes this year’s award so special. Personally, I am thrilled to bits as Decanter is globally recognised as the most important awarding body. The exception being in Australia with Halliday taking centre stage, as it should… In addition, the competition is getter tougher with each passing year, you certainly question, ‘are we good enough to win?’ which demonstrates the calibre of our fellow entrants.

We also received a new award and one which we did not expect.

We are incredibly proud to win Decanters’ ‘Green Champion Award’ which is five years in the making. Here’s one of the application questions:

“Why do you think you should win a Decanter Retailer Award? What makes your sustainability practices stand out from other retailers? Please include evidence of what you have done over the past 12 months that sets you apart.”

For a business to become sustainable, it must focus on long-term strategies for making a positive impact economically, socially and environmentally. For us, sustainability is about framing our business decisions in terms of decades and considering all factors rather than just the financial benefit. We have considered the impact for future generations and life at The Vinorium in 2040. Recycling, biodegradable packaging and shipping are merely a small contribution but we acknowledge, an important one. We have partnered with other businesses for sustainability enterprises and hope that our joint actions are to solve climate change complications. Turning a blind eye to inappropriate business practices whilst offsetting one’s carbon footprint is something that should not be celebrated. Granted, it is a small step, but and if we are to succeed, the minutiae of each business must be examined and changed to ensure wholesome practices are employed.

Our investment also lies in our new headquarters with a total cost of £3 million. It is architecturally stunning with the entire 4.4 acres being home to a natural ecosystem. This build will change the perception of how all companies can function. In addition, and as important as our environmental impact, is our social responsibility. We care about our employees and wish for them to find solace and joy from working amongst nature. To share daily lunches from our own organic garden is so exciting. This is the future and The Vinorium is physically making this part of our long journey materialise…

Cheers,

Stu & Team Vinorium

We are euphoric to be named 2020 'Best Australian Specialist' at the Decanter Retailer Awards. We will share this prodigious title with all 35 wine producers which we represent & our loyal customers. A huge thank you to all the Decanter judges who recognised our hard work & commitment to great Aussie wines.

Cheers,

Stu & Team Vinorium

On Thursday 26 September 2019, The Vinorium team travelled to London for the awards ceremony and were thrilled to bits to be awarded Decanter’s Australian Wine Merchant of the Year for the second year running. Year-on-year, the competition is super-tough with so many wonderful merchants offering fabulous Australian wines. The Vinorium is unique in the sense that we have dedicated ourselves to the Australian continent and the island of Tasmania. Our list of outstanding producers grows steadily as does the support from existing and new customers, which is always appreciated.

We would like to share this prodigious award with all our producers and customers, as without you all, The Vinorium would not be where we are today.

Cheers,
Stu & Team Vinorium

The ‘Oscars of the Wine Industry’ – the International Wine Challenge Awards Dinner took place on the evening of 9th July. Now in its 36th year, the competition itself is accepted as the world’s most rigorous, impartial and influential contest, which makes the award of Australian Wine Merchant of the Year very special indeed.

Despite leading the charge with Australian wines, we genuinely believe this award is not possible without our customers continued ‘Aussie’ support. For us, this is a collective award for us all to share and to be very proud of.

Congratulations and as ever, thank you for making The Vinorium the No:1 Australian Wine Merchant in the UK. This award means so much to team Vinorium.

We attended an evening with the leading UK supermarkets, wine merchants and independent retailers for the 2018 Decanter Retailer of the Year Awards. Winning retailers were announced during a special ceremony held at the OXO2 Tower and we were called to the stage first. Peter Richards MW, Awards Chairman presented the award of Decanter Australian Specialist of the Year, which of course, we are overjoyed with.

We thank all the Decanter judges (Peter Richards MW, Peter Ranscombe, Matt Walls, Andy Howard MW & Fiona Beckett) for their kind and incredibly generous words “The judges were wowed by The Vinorium’s mouthwatering range, focused on premium Australian wines with impressive back vintages and a range of formats. In fact, this ‘good-looking, well run’ Kent-based retailer impressed the judges all-round”.

We are beyond flattered to collect two of the industry’s most prodigious awards this year - IWC Australian Specialist of the Year and Decanter Australian Specialist of the Year. Our Aussie journey has taken an awful lot of hard work and complete dedication from my team (past and present). I am incredibly grateful for their diligence, self-motivation as well as commitment which is inspirational.

Now, is not the time to sit on our laurels as our industry is filled with competitive and excellent merchants. We will certainly take full advantage of our awards and will build upon an incredible 2018.

Tuesday 10 July 2018 the team and I attended the IWC Merchant Awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London as we were shortlisted for two awards. We came away with one, the all-important one, Australian Specialist Merchant of the Year, which we are utterly thrilled with. The competition was incredibly stiff with Liberty Wines, previous winners of the same award, also nominated. We are hugely appreciative for the recognition received from the IWC judging panel as we have put in an enormous amount of hard work to build such a strong Australian brand and following. We thank Peter McCombie MW, Charles Metcalfe, Laura Jewell MW, Spencer Hyman and Robin Copestick for this fantastic award. In many ways this award is shared with you all. Without you, our loyal customers who appreciate great Australian wines, this award would not have been possible. The team and I have received many emails congratulating us on our award from our customers, our producers and a lovely email from Wine Australia who believe our award was “well deserved”. On behalf of my team and I, may I say a huge thank you to each one of you for your marvellous support.