Award sponsored by

About the award

Introduced in 1998, this award recognises and outstanding contribution to promoting wine understanding and appreciation. Nominees are judged on the quality of their wine list and their ability to inspire customers to make wider and more adventurous choices in selecting wines.

Timberyard, Edinburgh 

Originally built in the 19th century as a prop and costume store before it became a wood merchants’ warehouse, Timberyard is a unique location for a family-run restaurant. With its striking red and black frontage, it’s hard to guess quite what’s in store for you once you set foot inside. The dining room is a beautiful example of the industrial understated aesthetic, all rusty details and painted brick walls, iron columns supporting the open ceiling, wooden floors and simple furnishings with a woodburning stove to keep things cosy on colder days. You can see the timber/wood association throughout – bare tables and wooden platters give the warehouse a unique feel.

Wine judging observations:

This list caused a lot of excitement among the judges. Any modern wine drinker would gravitate towards it, as its style shows a clear focus on organic grapes at a bare minimum, low intervention and skin contact. As a list it is refreshingly different and packed with depth and choice. A great approach to wines by the glass that promotes creating a relationship and conversation. While they don’t have a list by the glass, they always have a range of open wines in different styles in addition to their wine pairings. 08