We find Harpers Wine Stars invaluable in marketing our wines as it’s the only award programme which judges as a consumer would – taste, appearance and value for money – which is the validation our customers, and their customers, respect.

We entered Harpers Wine Stars because of their holistic approach in reviewing wines based on taste, value and design…which really aligns with our values. Of key importance to us is developing our brand and reaching out to professionals in the wine trade, something which we believe Harpers Wine Stars can help us achieve, with their multi-facetted talents and experienced judges. This assures us of their unbiased and professional approach, which we highly appreciate. 

For our flagship Ridgeview wine Bloomsbury to be named the Star of England in a competition with such respected judges from the trade is a true honour. To be benchmarked against the increasing brilliant category of English sparkling wines is a fantastic credit to the whole Ridgeview team by sustaining quality at the forefront of all we do.

I think the concept of judging the wine for its quality and then going back to the score knowing the price is to make a value-for-money assessment and is what makes Wine Stars unique. This, for me, is what makes it more commercially focused.

The mix of wines is very interesting, both big wineries and much smaller ones. The quality of the tasting was good, nothing faulty and the organisation of getting [wines to the judges] and running through zoom was great. A good mix of different areas of the industry on the call meant that different opinions were covered.

I really like tasting blind before knowing the cost.

I wouldn't really compare it to other tastings I've been to as they aren't comparable.

Wine Stars is the best awards I’ve taken part in, I’ve done a few of them, top marks for organisation, and this has definitely been the best one.

It was a really interesting tasting, really great. It’s the first time I have considered the packaging in a judging process. It makes a big difference, as that is very important to consider when buying. Price first then what it looks like.

Ridgeview choose to enter the Harpers Wine Star awards for its focus on buyers and being able to benchmark our wines from a commercial basis with those in the know, in the trade. For Ridgeview quality is paramount in all that we do, and we loved the focus on this while also being assessed on the important sales aspects of taste, value and design. Ridgeview were over the moon for our Bloomsbury to receive such brilliant accolades in the Harpers Wine Star awards as the Star of England and Star Taste and Value with our Rosé Fitzrovia winning Star Design. To be acknowledged by our peers in the trade is so rewarding and fantastic recognition to our hardworking and passionate team. It is great to have acknowledgment from the trade on our commercial focus and wonderful news to share with our customers.

I love this concept, we’re opening up the industry to the front line and have a chance of bringing customer feedback closer to the supplier.

I like the process of moving from blind, to value, to presentation... I did taste a couple of wines that we are going to follow up on for a potential listing.

I believe it's the only judging panel that takes the commercial aspect into account with the right mix of buyers from all backgrounds.