THE OWNERS of Britain’s most northerly commercial vineyard had a night to remember as one of their sparkling wines, produced at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds, won the champion title at this year’s Taste Awards.

Held at Pavilions of Harrogate at the Great Yorkshire Showground, the finale of the 2016 Taste Awards saw 300 guests celebrate the finest food and drink from across the region in an annual suite of prestigious awards run by The Yorkshire Post and regional food group Deliciouslyorkshire.

021116 Winner of the Supreme Champion 2016 Ryedale Vineyards at the deliciouslyorkshire and Yorkshire Post Taste Awards at the Pavilions in Harrogate, with l to r.. NIgel Barden BBC Radio 2, Sue Nelson Yorkshire Food Finder, Sturat Taylor Asda and James Mitchinson Editor of the Yorkshire Post.

(LtoR) Nigel Barden BBC Radio 2, Sue Nelson Yorkshire Food Finder, Stuart and Elizabetrh Smith, Stuart Taylor Asda and James Mitchinson Editor of the Yorkshire Post.

It was a special moment for Ryedale Vineyards, operated by Stuart and Elizabeth Smith, as they clinched the Supreme Product award for the very best entry for their delicious Dalesman White Sparkling, which also picked up the award for Best Yorkshire Wine. They then stunned the audience by announcing they had sold the business and were retiring  to the Isle of Arran the following day.

“We did think we had a good chance of winning the Yorkshire Wine Category,” said Stuart. “But to win the Supreme Product is just the icing on the cake as we set out on our retirement.”

They remained tight-lipped about who had taken over the vineyard, but assured everyone they had left it in good hands.
BBC Radio 2’s resident foodie Nigel Barden helped host the awards night with Sue Nelson, which featured a three-course dinner before the 25 awards category winners were revealed following a record number of entries.
Among the other victors on the night was York-based bakery operation Miss Friday as Best New Business, Howden-based Anna’s Happy Trotters which won Best Fresh Meat with its Yorkshire Pulled Ham and Bert’s Barrow of Hillam village near Selby which was awarded Best Independent Retailer.

021116 Winners of the Best Fresh Mest at the deliciouslyorkshire and Yorkshire Post Taste Awards at the Pavilions in Harrogate, in association with Vemer Wheelock, Anna's Happy Trotters .

Best Fresh Meat went to Anna’s Happy Trotters .

A special award went to Sue Nelson, who was named Local Food Hero. The former journalist runs the thriving Yorkshire Food Finder business, which champions the region’s producers by linking food lovers with the county’s finest artisan food producers and restaurants via gourmet food trails.
Judy Bell, chair of Deliciouslyorkshire, said: “The standard of entries was incredibly high across all categories this year and our judges had the hard task of narrowing down the entries to a shortlist of four before deciding on our eventual winners.
“Being named on the shortlist is a great achievement in itself and I congratulate everyone on their magnificent achievement.

 

 

 

Product winners

Best Bakery Product: Just Desserts – Salted Caramel Cake

Best Bakery Product: Just Desserts – Salted Caramel Cake

Best Fresh Produce: Herbs unlimited – Oxtails

Best Fresh Meat: Anna’s Happy Trotters – Yorkshire Pulled Ham
Best Prepared Meat: The British Premium Sausage Company – Harrogate Brat Hot Dog Sausage
Best Yorkshire Pork Pie: BW & DJ Glaves and Sons
Best Fish and Seafood: Kilnsey Park Estate – Smoked Trout Pate
Best Cheese: Yorkshire Dama Cheese – Halloumi with Chilli
Best Ice Cream: Yummy Yorkshire – Liquorice and Blackcurrant
Best Drink: Manor Farm Jerseys – Many Farm Jersey Milk
Best Beer: Bad Company Brewery – Dazed & Confused
Best Wine: Ryedale Vineyards – The Dalesman White Sparkling
Best Savoury Condiment: Bessie’s Yorkshire Preserves – Fig & Balsamic Chutney
Best Spirit: York Brewery – Elysian Spirit
Best Confectionery: Ye Olde Sun Inn – Gin-Infused Chocolates
Best Ready to Eat Product:
The Topping Pie Company – Game Pie
Best Sweet Preserve: Peckish Kitchen Company – Pink Grapefruit & Prosecco Chutney
Best ‘Free From Product’: The Hull Pie – Gluten Free Succulent Steak Pie

TASTE CHAMPION CATEGORIES
Best New Business: Miss Friday
Best Wholesale/Distributor: Class One
Best Yorkshire Breakfast: Cambridge House, Reeth
Best use of local produce on a menu: Yorebridge House, Bainbridge
Best Yorkshire Afternoon Tea: Jervaulx Abbey Tearooms
Local Food Hero: Sue Nelson – Yorkshire Food Finder
Best Independent Retailer: Bert’s Barrow
Supreme Product: Ryedale Vineyards – The Dalesman White Sparkling

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