“As a wine raconteur Olly is perhaps without peer; presenting in his inimitable and ebullient style at dozens of festivals including The F-Word Live, the ‘Taste’ shows, BBC Good Food & many wine tastings. This is someone that the panel believed to be without doubt the best ‘Communicator of the Year 2009’.

On collecting the trophy, Olly added;
“I’m immensely proud to be working alongside such a huge range of talent here in the UK and am chuffed to bits to have won this award. It’s still sinking in, but for now, I feel like I’m surfing a joyful cascade of fizz to the shores of Happyland. Big thanks to VinItaly and the IWSC for the recognition and here’s to a rocking 2009 in the best business in the world. Wine rocks!”

Previous IWSC Communicator of the Year winners include Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robinson MW, Anthony Dias Blue, Andrew Jefford, Susy Atkins, Matthew Jukes, Joe Wadsack, Oz Clarke, Tim Atkin MW and Karen McNeil.

A formal presentation of this award will be made at the IWSC 40th Annual Awards Banquet on November 26th2009 at The Guildhall, London.