Hotelier and eminent epicure Craig Bancroft has beaten competitors from hotels and restaurants nationwide to win the top prize for “French Wines Match 2004” competition
At the London final, Mr Bancroft, managing director of the Northcote Manor, at Langho, battled it out against the country’s elite to become this year’s “King of the Gourmands”. Proving his prowess as a food and wine expert, he selected three French wines from a choice of 30, chosen to represent the diversity of France’s wine producing regions. Each was selected and matched to the starter, main course and dessert of a complex menu prepared by Richard Corrigan of Lindsay house restaurant.
Marrying a refreshing white Gaillac wine with cream of chick pea and steamed Langoustine for the first course, Mr Bancroft’s knowledgeable and creative wine choices were awarded the highest marks by the judging panel, which included experts from the commercial wine world as well as prominent journalists.
Passionate about wines, Mr Bancroft enthused to the judging panel: “When looking to match food and wine, the sheer breadth and depth of French wines is where they sing. Thanks to an impressive new wave of affordable French wines, they are now really accessible to one and all and if you are looking for a real treat, you can’t go wrong with one of the great French classics.”
Mr Bancroft won either a week in a French wine-producing region of his choice or the latest restaurant or kitchen equipment to the value of £2000.
Chef and member of the judging panel Mr Corrigan commented “I was delighted by the exceptionally high standard of this year’s competitors and it was a tough one to judge!” “The competition aims to highlight the wide choice and quality of French wines and gives sommeliers and chefs an opportunity to demonstrate their enthusiasm for French Wines. It was an excellent day and Northcote Manor should feel proud to have beaten such stiff competition”