THE Smiling Grape Company, an independent family-owned wine merchant which opened last year in St Neots, has been nominated as a finalist in the 2010 Drinks Retailing Awards for the Independent Wine Retailer of the Year category. The award is one of the m

THE Smiling Grape Company, an independent family-owned wine merchant which opened last year in St Neots, has been nominated as a finalist in the 2010 Drinks Retailing Awards for the Independent Wine Retailer of the Year category.

The award is one of the most hotly-contested and respected awards for the UK off-trade. The Smiling Grape team will be attending the awards dinner at London's Dorchester Hotel in February for one of the most eagerly-awaited nights in the wine industry's calendar.

"Our novel way of wine retail has been very successful, said Matt Ellis, managing partner of the Smiling Grape Company. The emerging company was shortlisted for The Hunts Post Huntingdonshire Business of the Year Award 2008.

"The business has continued to grow and develop as customers thoroughly enjoy selecting wine for their food, mood or occasion. When shopping with us, you can choose wine by country, grape or price. But you can also choose wine by flavour, by the food you wish it to accompany, or even select a wine to match up with music or a movie. It's that simple.

"We are constantly creating new ideas to make shopping for wine fun and enjoyable," he added. "Our tasting notes are entertaining, and we can even recommend a wine that pairs perfectly with The Godfather movie.