Sandro Bottega received the 2018 Riedel Winemaker of the Year award on April 30, 2018 in Toronto. The Cambridge Food & Wine Society presented Bottega with the award at Biagio Ristorante.

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed a tasting of Italian food, wine, grappa and single malt Scotch whisky. The prestigious guests included many well-known in the wine industry: the Riedel family; Shauneen E. Bruder, Honorary Consul General of Luxembourg in Toronto; Leo Chan, President of the Cambridge Food & Wine Society; and many Canadian authorities and the European consuls. Funds raised were donated to the charity, Grapes for Humanity Canada.

Bottega owns and operates the Italian winery and distillery, Bottega SpA. He took over the family business after his father’s passing in 1983. Keeping the company in the family, he works closely with his sister, Barbara, and brother, Stefano. Their wines are available in over 132 countries and on several major airlines. Bottega’s ability to create enchanting wines, grappa and liqueurs, served up in gorgeous handmade glass bottles is one of the major factors that makes him Riedel’s winemaker of the year.

“I feel deeply honored and grateful,” said Bottega upon receiving the award. “I dedicate this prestigious recognition to my parents, and to the whole company, who have worked with creativity, passion and humbleness to produce wines, grappa and liqueurs.”

The Riedel Winemaker of the Year Award honours industry leaders who achieve outstanding results and contribute to the industry. Past recipients of the award include:

• Robert Mondavi, USA (2005);
• Karl Kaiser and Donald Ziraldo, Canada (2006);
• LambertoMarchesi de Frescobaldi, Italy (2007);
• Léon Beyer, France (2008);
• João Nicolau de Almedia, Portugal (2009);
• and Miguel Torres, Spain (2014).