Wine Producer of the Year - Casa Ermerlinda Freitas

Casa Ermelinda Freitas has been elected European Wine Producer of the Year for the second year in a row. This prize was presented during the Sommelier Wine Awards in London.

The Sommelier Wine Awards is a wine competition with a difference. As the UK’s only on-trade wine competition, it focuses entirely on wines aimed at the on-trade. Wines with general distribution on the high street are not permitted to enter, except for sparkling and fortified wines, or merchants' online-exclusive wines.

Since the competition started in 2007 it has grown to become the first point of reference for the UK's on-trade wine buyers as well as the main competition for wines trying to increase their presence in hotels, pubs, bars and restaurants across the world.

Ermelinda Freitas burst onto the Sommelier Wine Awards with a flourish last year, picking up seven medals and 11 Commended wines. We thought that such a performance might be a one-off. But apparently not. Twelve medals was an extraordinary performance. Perhaps the most impressive aspects this year were the breadth of wines on offer and the pricing. All the Golds were under £10, so plenty of value for money there, while the Silvers stretched from value ‘house wine’ through ‘trade-up’ to the indulgent Moscatel Roxo (which also got a Gold last year). This, it seems, is a winery that can deliver at every level.