Home Winners > Winners 2015 > NEW WORLD: Gewürztraminer & Torrontés

Winner Details

New World: Gewürztraminer & Torrontés


2015: Gold 1 Silver 3 Bronze 0 Commended 4
2014: Gold 3 Silver 3 Bronze 2 Commended 3


Was last year a false dawn? Three Golds and three Silvers in 2014 suggested great things for these two über-aromatic cousins. But while this year wasn’t terrible (frequently we get no Gold-Listed wines at all), our sommelier tasters weren’t entirely won over.

What’s undoubtedly true is that the medal count and the feedback were significantly better for Torrontés than they were for Gewürztraminer, with our tasters even describing the former as ‘food-friendly’, which doesn’t happen every year.

From The Tasting Teams


‘The Torrontés flight was very interesting and excellent value. Really approachable and food-friendly. You can have a really stunning surprise without spending too much money on it.’ Jeremie Guiraud, Lords of the Manor

‘Once these wines start getting expensive, you can get so much better aromatic wines with things like Riesling.’ Annette Scarfe MW, team leader

‘These overtly rich, oily, over-the-top Gewürztraminers are not really food-friendly wines, they are much more suited to people who like overtly perfumed wines as an aperitif. I don’t think these are food wines generally speaking.’ Natasha Hughes MW, team leader

‘[The Andeluna Torrontés] was the most expensive wine but it really merits a place on a wine list.’ Richard Bampfield MW, team leader

‘I struggled with the New World Gewürztraminers. They were difficult wines –some bitter finishes and some soapiness.’ Gareth Ferreira, Launceston Place

‘The Gewürztraminers lacked a little lift – there was more texture than freshness.’
Richard Bampfield MW, team leader

Award winners

Found 8 wines

New World: Gewürztraminer & Torrontés

Andeluna, 1300, Torrontés 2014, Mendoza, Argentina

Gold medal winner

A perfumed elegance lifted Andeluna to the Gold podium.

'Flowers, lemon and rose petals on the nose, the palate has good balance, structure and a long finish,' said Ram Chhetri of Bread Street Kitchen, adding: 'Match with grilled fish or Thai dishes.'
‘Very typical, with fresh acidity and candy-like, zesty citrus flavours,' said Jeremie Guiraud of Lords of the Manor, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW agreeing: ‘Vibrant lime citrus with juicy acidity; attractive and welcoming.’

£9.03 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Vistalba, Tomero, Torrontés 2014, Salta, Argentina

Silver medal winner

‘A more complex style, with a hint of creamy oak, peach fruit and white flowery notes, with a creamy vanilla texture,’ said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth adding: ‘Good structure and minerality with a sweetish finish.’

£8.72 Enotria&Coe

Yealands, Single Vineyard, Awatere Valley, Gewürztraminer 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand

Silver medal winner

Diego Muntoni of Oxo Tower Restaurant found 'full, exotic lychee and rose', while Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place noted: 'Aromas of lychee, vanilla and candle wax with white florals, a lychee palate with nice mouthfeel and pleasant acidity.'
Relatively restrained for the variety, this is nonetheless textured, and perfect with Oriental food dishes.

£9.82 Enotria&Coe

Norton, Finca La Colonia, Torrontés 2014, Mendoza, Argentina

Silver medal winner

‘Attractive, lychee fresh fruit, simple but clean and well balanced, good value too,’ said team leader Annette Scarfe MW of this deleicate, lime-coridal infused wine, with a hint of spice on the close. Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth found: ‘Peach, apricot and a little almond note on the finish.’

£5.94 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Spy Valley, Gewürztraminer 2013, Marlborough , New Zealand

Commended medal winner

£11.28 Bibendum

Amalaya, Blanco de Altura 2014, Calchaquí Valley, Argentina

Commended medal winner

£6.85 Liberty Wines

Colomé, Torrontés 2014, Calchaquí Valley, Argentina

Commended medal winner

£7.45 Liberty Wines

Distell, Nederburg, Heritage Heroes, The Beautiful Lady 2013, Western Cape, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£11.99 Matthew Clark