Nocciola Gelato scoops Great Taste Supreme Champion 2019, as genius gelato captures hazelnut harvest

Following a record-breaking 12,772 entries, Great Taste, the world’s most revered food and drink awards, has reached its grand finale for 2019 and the top honour of Great Taste Supreme Champion has been awarded to Nocciola Gelato, made by Swoon Gelato from Bristol. The result of 75 days of rigorous judging, the Supreme Champion trophy was announced at the Great Taste Golden Fork Dinner held on Sunday 1 September at the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel London, where over 350 guests from the world of fine food gathered to discover this year’s stars of food and drink.

The hazelnuts for this “silky smooth and super creamy” Nocciola Gelato, which was also awarded the Golden Fork from the South West, come from a small property in Piedmonte, where the trees have been tended to by the same family for four generations. “Delivering exactly what it promises”, Swoon’s “faultless and unreal” Nocciola Gelato received high praise from the Great Taste judges, who were bowled over by its “sensational pure hazelnut flavour” and simply wanted more of this “very impressive gelato”.

Set up in 2016 by the fourth generation of the Forte family, who brought traditional Italian gelato to the UK over a century ago, Swoon has consistently impressed the Great Taste judges with its enchanting array of gelati and sorbetti. In 2017, four of its products received a 3-star Great Taste award, with this resounding success scooping Swoon the Great Taste Golden Fork for Producer of the Year. Following awards for nine of its products in 2018, Swoon’s meteoric rise has culminated in the Great Taste Supreme Champion trophy in 2019, just three years after it first opened its doors.

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, commented:

"Simplicity has won the day at Great Taste again this year, rising to the top in a field packed with new concepts, innovative flavour combinations and products from every corner of the world. All of the above have taken stars, but I think our 2019 Supreme Champion says a lot about the enduring appeal of straight up products made using the finest quality ingredients. Simple can be very sexy and Swoon's Nocciola Gelato stood out at every stage of the judging process, wowing all in its path with a pure, unadulterated hazelnut hit, carried on a silky spoonful of perfectly executed gelato. After only three years in business, this trophy for Swoon should inspire all those small food producers trying to make something really special, so I can't wait to see what lands on the judging tables next year."

The Great Taste Supreme Champion award was sponsored by Kenwood.

The full list of Golden Fork trophies for 2019

Charcuterie Product of the Year sponsored by Fine Food Digest

Capreolus Fine Foods for Guanciale

Golden Fork for Best Imported Food sponsored by ABP Cahir

The Ojos Foods for El Abuelo Maragato - Halal

Nigel Barden Heritage Award sponsored by Dunbia

Worley’s Cider for Special Reserve Keeved Somerset Cider

Ambient Product of the Year sponsored by Petty Wood

Kadode Kampot Pepper UK for Fermented Fresh Green Kampot Peppercorns

Golden Fork from Ireland sponsored by Bord Bia

Longueville House Beverages for Longueville Mór Cider

Golden Fork from Northern Ireland sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland

Whitewater Brewery Co for Kreme dela Kremlin

Golden Fork from the Midlands sponsored by Webbs Garden Centres

Redhill Farm Free Range Pork for Free Range Shoulder of Pork

Golden Fork from the South West sponsored by Speciality & Fine Food Fair

Swoon Gelato for Nocciola Gelato

Golden Fork from Wales sponsored by Food and Drink Wales

New Quay Honey Farm / Afon Mêl for Afon Mêl Heather Mead

Golden Fork from Scotland sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink

Shortbread House of Edinburgh for Pea Green Boat Cheese Sablés - Fennel and Chilli

Golden Fork from East Anglia sponsored by Shire Foods East Anglia

Hadley's Dairy for Burnt Honey Ice Cream

Golden Fork from the North of England sponsored by Fine Food Show North

Dark Woods Coffee for Panama La Huella "Cafe de Panama" (Natural)

Golden Fork from London & the South East sponsored by Tenuta Marmorelle

Gelato Gusto for Salted Caramel & Liquorice Gelato

Small Artisan Producer of the Year sponsored by Selfridges

Artisan Kitchen

Great Taste Startisan of the Year sponsored by Partridges

Matthew's Preserves

Contribution to Fine Food

Xanthe Clay

Details of all this year’s winners can be found at www.greattasteawards.co.uk.