Diogenes the Dog wins top Wine Buyers Award

The winners of London Wine Fair’s Wine Buyers Awards have been announced, with a London wine bar scooping the top accolade of Wine Buyer of the Year. 

As well as winning the On-Trade Multiple Venue Wine Buyer title, Diogenes the Dog in Elephant & Castle walked away as Wine Buyer of the Year, following the awards presentation on the Centre Stage at the London Wine Fair. 

Best On-Trade Wine Buying Team went to Firmdale Hotels.

The ceremony was co-hosted by Hannah Tovey, director of London Wine Fair, and Chris Losh, competition director. 

New for 2025 was the Sustainable Buyer award category, reflecting how environmental impact is now a vital consideration and responsibility across all professional wine buying areas.  

The winners

Single Venue Independent Merchant Wine Buyer
Jamie Tonkin from Old Chapel Cellars

Multiple Venue Independent Merchant Wine Buyer
Nicolas Rezzouk from Reserve Wines

On-Trade Single Venue Wine Buyer
Sam Weatherill from Etch by Steven Edwards

On-Trade Multiple Venue Wine Buyer
Sunny Hodge from Diogenes the Dog

Supermarket & Multiples Wine Buyer 
Victoria Anderson of Booths

Rising Star Wine Buyer Award 
Zara Cassidy of Majestic

Best On-Trade Wine Buying Team 
Firmdale Hotels

Best Off-Trade Wine Buying Team 
The Wine Society

Smal Business Sustainable Wine Buyer
Verity Sessions from Palate Bottle Shop

Multiple Venue Sustainable Wine Buyer
Joe Olding from Tesco

Sustainable Wine Buying Team
The Wine Society

General Excellence in Wine Buying Award 
Simon Taylor of Stone Vine and Sun

Overall Wine Buyer of the Year
Sunny Hodge, Diogenes the Dog

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