Craig Bancroft receives APWI Special Award
Craig Bancroft, Managing Director of Northcote, Lancashire has been awarded the special Association of Portuguese Wine Importers (APWI) Award on at the Annual Awards Dinner held on Tuesday 5th March, at The Ambassadors Residence, Embassy of Portugal, London the home of the ambassador his excellency Dr Joao de Vallera.
It is only the third time the APWI Special Award has been presented and recognises the long-standing commitment to promoting Portuguese wines for 25 years. Northcote has championed Portugal as an important wine producer via the wine list, education of the customer base to the diversity of Portuguese wines which in turn is supported by a robust education package for the Sommeliers engaging with the customers on a daily basis.
His Excellency Dr Joao de Vallera, Portuguese Ambassador, and Danny Cameron, President of the Association of Portuguese Wine Importers presented the award to Craig
Commenting on the award Craig said, “This award is one that I will cherish as Portugal for me has given so much pleasure to us at Northcote over the 29 Years of championing their wine regions. The diversity of wines from Portugal has given us some amazing opportunities to find food and wine pairings that we would have otherwise not reached. The indigenous grape varieties are their secret weapon in terms of that edge or something different.
The award is a great honour for the whole wine team lead by Head Sommelier, Adam Pawlowski. The most important thing is that we have delivered some great Portuguese wines to customers who have never taken the opportunity to have enjoyed them before. We know as they leave the table that we have given an introduction that they will not forget and hopefully continue to seek out when they return home.
Many thanks to all the wine makers and especially our wine merchant Julian Kaye of the Wright Wine Company, Skipton who we have challenged many times in seeking out the finest Portuguese wines. Without these characters and their support we could never have won such an accolade.”
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Media enquiries: Laura Crabb, Marketing & PR Executive Northcote Group and Ribble Valley Inns on 01254 519178
Image: From L to R: His Excellency Dr Joao de Vallera, Portuguese Ambassador and Craig Bancroft, Managing Director of Northcote
Notes to Editors
1. Northcote is a Michelin star restaurant (since 1996) with 14 rooms in Lancashire. Northcote sits on the edge of the Ribble Valley and The Forest of Bowland, a recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
2. The Northcote Group of Companies are owned by Richard Matthewman (Chairman), Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft includes Northcote; Northcote at the Rovers (established at Ewood Park since 2001 and is the conference and banqueting division of Northcote); Ribble Valley Inns (RVI) (since 2004 consists of The Three Fishes, The Highwayman Inn, The Clog and Billycock and The Bull at Broughton).
3. To read biographies for Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft go to www.northcote.com