‘Atlas of Taste’ wins André Simon drinks book award

‘The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste’ by Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay has been named as the winner of the André Simon Award 2018 for best drinks book.

At an awards ceremony held at The Goring hotel in London on 5 February, the pair’s book emerged victorious from a field that included works by Oz Clarke, Jamie Goode, Simon Woolf and Alex Maltman on wine experiences, faults, orange wines and the science of vineyard geology.

Drinks assessor this year, the writer Victoria Moore, was effusive in her praise of all the books but explaining why Parr and Mackay’s book finally won she said: “It isn’t easy to produce fresh insights and fascinating commentary on some of the most well-trampled wine regions on earth, but sommelier-turned-wine producer Rajat Parr and writer Jordan Mackay have managed to do just that, and to do so with style; I expect this book to find its way on to the shelves of wine drinkers and collectors as well as those of aspiring sommeliers.”

Diana Henry’s book How to Eat a Peach was the winner in the Food category, with the book by the Hubb Community Kitchen Together won the special commendation and Caroline Eden’s Black Sea won the John Avery Award.

To read an extract from the book click here.

In conjunction with the André Simon Awards, the drinks business is currently running a competition on its social media channels for a chance to win a copy of the shortlisted books.

There are still two to be given away so stay tuned this week for a chance to win.