English and Welsh wine awards celebrate 'world class rosés'

21 June, 2010

The results of the English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition are in. 

A record number of medals were awarded across the style categories by a judging panel of five Masters of Wine, chaired by Susan McCraith MW.  According to the organisers, results showed the quality of the 2009 vintage, particularly in the dry white and still rosé categories. Sparkling wines were consistently impressive.

Entries included some new wines and vineyards.

The category that stood out most for the judges was the still rosé section, where six gold medals were awarded (none were gained in the 2009 competition).  The trophy for this category – the Waitrose Rosé Trophy - was won by Camel Valley Fortnum & Mason Rosé 2009. An additional trophy was awarded from this category, for Best Unchaptalised Wine, won by Wickham Vineyard for their Row Ash Rosé NV.

Still dry white wines were a strong category, with the varietal Bacchus taking the lead on the medal board, gaining all but one of the six gold medals, as well as the trophy for best commercial production from the previous vintage – awarded to Chapel Down Bacchus 2009.  The other gold was awarded to a single varietal Madeleine Angevine, produced by Stanlake Park Wine Estate. 


Within the oaked white wine category, all entries gained a medal, with the trophy for best oaked white wine awarded to Wickham Special Reserve Fumé 2009.

Medals for red wines were awarded in both the Pinot Noir and other varietal categories. This year’s red wine trophy was awarded to Plumpton College’s Sutherland’s Block 2009 Pinot Noir.

The sparkling wine category saw a higher number of gold medals over last year. Wines from non classic varietal performed well alongside the classic varietal sparklers, and sparkling rosés upheld their strong performance.


The Gore-Browne Trophy  for Wine of the Year was awarded for the second year in a row to Ridgeview Wine Estate, this year for their Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs 2001, bottled in magnums. The wine also scooped the trophy for best sparkling wine.

The McAlpine trophy for Winemaker of the Year was awarded for a second time to Sam Lindo of Camel Valley, who first won the title in 2007.

The Montagu Trophy for packaging and presentation was awarded to Ridgeview’s Grosvenor 2001 Blanc de Blancs (magnums). 

Susan McCraith MW said: “We were delighted to award a record number of gold medals across all the categories. The still rosé category was the highest quality we’ve seen - truly world-class, and the red categories were the best we’ve ever tasted.  The dry white wines impressed us greatly, and showed that the aromatic qualities of the grape varieties grown – particularly Bacchus – are a highly successful style here in the UK.  There were some real stars in the sparkling wine categories to rival some of the best in the world.  My congratulations to all entrants and winners.  There is a lot to be proud about.”

The competition is organised by the United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA).


The full list of awards can be found on the English Wine Producers Site <http://www.englishwineproducers.com/results.htm>





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