Stephan Hinz Is Crowned "g'vine Gin Connoisseur" In The "world Cup" Of Coktail Competitions, German Bartender Takes Top Honors

This month, G'Vine, Gin de France completed its quest for the most exceptional Gin Bartender in the world. After a lengthy 9-month process, which involved rigorous exams, essays and exceptional cocktail creation, the brand crowned Stephan Hinz, from the Shepheard Bar in K�ln, Germany, with the first-ever title of "G'Vine Gin Connoisseur." Stephan was showered with over-the-top prizes including a year's supply of his own G'Vine, $3000 USD, a platinum pin and a luxury trip for two through Amsterdam, London and Paris to explore the past, present and future of Gin.

"Unlike other cocktail competitions where the focus is only on the end-use cocktail created by the bartender, the G'Vine Connoisseur Program was seeking a bartender with an unmatched knowledge and creativity - basically a bartender who is obsessed with Gin," exclaimed Audrey Fort, EWG's Marketing and Business Development Director. "These 'Gin-tenders' are a unique bunch, and G'Vine was determined to unearth the best of breed and properly bestow the talented contender with top honors and unprecedented awards."

The competition began in October 2009, when G'Vine embarked on a worldwide search that was open to all bartenders, internationally. The first step included 5 "interactive modules" downloadable from the G'Vine website which made up an extensive overview of the gin category: the Complete History of Gin, Gin Making, G'Vine Education, Tasting Gin & Cocktails, and Gin Marketing. The twenty highest scoring competitors from each country were awarded with exclusive G'Vine tailor-made tools such as ice moulds and shakers.

The second step involved each candidate submitting a full dissertation about the art of Gin Marketing. The entrants impressed Duff, a veteran of the bartending competition circuit. "I've run half a dozen global bartender contests in the last decade, and I have never, ever seen such a high standard as demonstrated by the twelve Gin Connoisseur Finalists," decrees Duff. "I have no doubt that when the dust settles at the end of the G'Vine Spring Ball, which concludes a week of challenges and once-in-a-lifetime experiences in Cognac and Paris, we will, without a doubt, crown the world's finest Gin Bartender".

In addition to ace-ing the exams, contenders also created an original G'Vine cocktail and include it on their bar's cocktail list, bringing additional points. The last challenge before the finals in Cognac was for them to write a blog entry, also now available at www.spirit-of-grape.com .

In June, after 6 demanding months with over 300 entrants from around the world, only the 12 best gin bartenders hailed to France, Paris and Cognac for a long weekend of competition and camaraderie, vying for the coveted, first-ever title of "G'Vine Gin Connoisseur". The 12 finalists included:

Brian Mac Gregor, Jardiniere, San Francisco, USA
Damien Aries, Buddha Bar, Paris, France
Javier Bravo, Long Island Bar, Cork, Ireland
Martin Lange, Sling Lounge, West End, Australia
Mohamed Falil Din Jayah, Skyview Bar, Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE
Nick Nemeth, Cocktails & Cordials, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Oron Lerner, Shila restaurant, Tel Aviv, Israel
Rob Poulter, Mix bar, Reading, UK
Ryan Duvenage, Bar Code Academy, Durban, South Africa
Spyros Patsialos, Faltso Bar, Athens, Greece
Stephan Hinz, Shepheard Bar, Cologne, Germany
Stefanos Paraskevoudis, James Cocktail Bar, Thessaloniki, Greece

After flying in from around the globe, a dozen bartenders plus assorted other participants descended upon Cognac to duke it out for the title of ultimate gin bartender. The illustrious Gary