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Winner Details

FRANCE: Alsace


2015: Gold 2 Silver 5 Bronze 5 Commended 8
2014: Gold 3 Silver 2 Bronze 8 Commended 5

Here’s an oddity. Given how much the Sommelier Wine Awards tasters love Riesling in general and Alsace Riesling in particular, you’d think that this section would be awash with Golds. In fact, this year, while the overall number of medals was about the same, they were shared out quite atypically. Both Gewürz and Pinot Gris picked up as many medals as Riesling – and the only two places on the Gold List – while the number of Commendeds suggests a region wrestling with some tricky vintages.

From the Tasting Teams


‘I love these wines’ food compatibility. I believe that Alsace really works in most restaurants.’ James Hocking, The Vineyard Group

‘The versatility of [the Pinot Gris and Pinot Blancs] is astonishing – they work with so many different things – say on Sunday lunch when someone has pork belly, someone roast sea bass, someone roast chicken, another person smoked fish – these wines just do it all.’ Jade Koch, team leader

‘There are so many things that you can do with Alsace Gewürztraminer, pairing it with richer and spicier Asian styles of foods, including quite fruity curries. It’s a very flexible and individual variety to have on the list.’ Morgan VanderKamer, Stanley’s Dublin

‘Pinot Blanc is great at going with lighter styles of spicy food, or simply on its own. It can be a real quality crowd pleaser.’ Richard Brooks, Caroline Catering

‘Alsace is a region that you can trust for quality – but people still don’t know it that well.’
Angela Reddin, team leader


Award winners

Found 20 wines

France: Alsace

GCF Exclusif, Ville de Colmar, Signature de Colmar, Pinot Gris Grand Cru Hengst 2011, Alsace, France

Gold medal winner Food Match

The food-friendliness of this lusciously balanced wine shone from the start, so little wonder it took the inaugural Pulled Pork Food Match crown. ‘Opulent, dry and mineral, showing superb depth and weight of fruit, and a finish that lasts for ever,’ said an impressed James Hocking of The Vineyard Group. ‘Really lovely complexity,’ agreed Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, while The Tate Group's Hamish Anderson said: 'Marmalade spice, citrus pith and honey. Like it!'

£11.63 Grape Passions

Turckheim, Vieilles Vignes Gewürztraminer 2011, Alsace, France

Gold medal winner

Superb balance alongside a tangy complexity marked Turkheim's Old Vines Gewürz out. ‘Great perfume, violets and lavender, with notes of ice cream and fruit salad,’ began Michael Moore of Room 24, with Athila Roos of The Arts Club adding: ‘Lip-smacking acidity, refreshing yet complex and weighty,' and team leader Angela Redding saying: 'Grapefruit pith, greengage and lemon marmalade with a lovely citrus jammy mouthfeel and intensity.'

£9.25 Boutinot

Biecher & Schaal, Gewürztraminer Grand Cru Steinert 2012, Alsace, France

Silver medal winner

‘All you’d want out of a Gewürz, spicy and expressive,’ began Athila Roos of The Arts Club, continuing: ‘Beautiful nose with ripe Mirabelle, peach and a hint of florals. Elegantly vibrant and bold.’ ‘Great general dessert wine,’ agreed Michael Moore of Room 24.

£12.95 Bibendum

Turckheim, Vieilles Vignes, Riesling 2011, Alsace, France

Silver medal winner

‘Developed, petrolly aromas, followed by a big palate with petrol, white fruit and cheesy, leesy notes dominating,’ said Hakkasan Group's Christine Parkinson, with Luigi Buonanno of Bianco43 adding: ‘Very fresh, lemony palate with decent length.’

£7.70 Boutinot

Josmeyer, Le Kottabe, Riesling 2011, Alsace, France

Silver medal winner

'Taut lime leaf and dried wild meadow grasses on the nose, with soft cooked apple palate and a lick of citrus peel,' said team leader Angela Reddin.

'Zingy but balanced, this is a great foody wine,' said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, recommending chicken and salad dishes 'as well as the classic Asian matches'.

£12.00 Pol Roger

Dopff au Moulin, Riesling Grand Cru Schoenenbourgh 2011, Alsace, France

Silver medal winner

‘Dense, concentrated and stylish,’ began Christine Parkinson of Hakkasan Group, continuing: ‘With white apple flesh, black pepper spice and earthy, leesy and citrus notes, this is very long.’ 'Good wine, with oily, balsam of lemon texture,’ added team leader Olivier Marie.

£19.84 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Beblenheim, Oscar Truschel, Réserve Particulière, Gewürtraminer 2013, Alsace, France

Silver medal winner

‘Really aromatic wine with pleasant floral notes of white roses and a touch of sweetness on the finish,’ said Andrea Domenicucci of Whatley Manor. ‘Aromatic, lychee and Turkish delight, spicy and very quaffable,’ added Athila Roos of The Arts Club.

£6.35 Bottle Green

GCF Exclusif, Hospices de Colmar, Domaine Viticole de la Ville de Colmar, Gewürztraminer 2012, Alsace, France

Bronze medal winner

Intense and opulent, this is a lively, zingy Gewürz, with notes of roast lemon, angelica and dried flowers. The Arts Club’s Athila Roos noted: ‘Ripe Mirabelle aromas and a whiff of rose petals, off-dry and delicious.’

£12.26 Grape Passions

Turckheim, Réserve, Pinot Gris 2013, Alsace, France

Bronze medal winner

‘Light and delicate aromas, juicy medium-bodied style with unctuous tropical fruit and a hint of white pepper spice,’ said Mark Graham of Butlers Wharf Chop House. ‘Long and gentle, with blossom, white tea and jasmine notes,’ added team leader Jade Koch.

£7.80 Boutinot

Turckheim, Riesling Grand Cru Brand 2010, Alsace, France

Bronze medal winner

Team leader Olivier Marie found ‘complexity, development, white truffle and paraffin waxy complexity’, while Hakkasan Group’s Christine Parkinson noted: ‘Zesty, textured, dried apple, lactic and spice notes with good length.’

£12.00 Boutinot

Zinck, Portrait Range, Pinot Gris 2013, Alsace, France

Bronze medal winner

‘Honeysuckle aromas, a drier more honeyed fruit style with hints of butterscotch. Spritzy yet elegant and very much alive,' said team leader Jade Koch. ‘Very balanced, nimble and appealing; think salads or chicken dishes,’ added Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering.

£10.68 Matthew Clark

Josmeyer, Le Fromenteau, Pinot Gris 2009, Alsace, France

Bronze medal winner

‘Seductive richness on the palate, clean, ripe and balanced, lengthy with minerality,’ said James Hocking of The Vineyard Group, with team leader Jade Koch adding: ‘Lychee, a drier, more spicy character, with juicy fruit and a hint of cereal.’

£13.00 Pol Roger

Zinck, Portrait Range, Gewürztraminer 2013, Alsace , France

Commended medal winner

£11.66 Matthew Clark

Turckheim, Réserve, Gewürztraminer 2013, Alsace , France

Commended medal winner

£8.70 Boutinot

Turckheim, Gewürztraminer Grand Cru Brand 2011, Alsace , France

Commended medal winner

£12.45 Boutinot

Turckheim, Organic Pinot Noir 2013, Alsace , France

Commended medal winner

£8.85 Boutinot

Beblenheim, Oscar Truschel, Réserve Particulière, Riesling 2013, Alsace , France

Commended medal winner

£5.85 Bottle Green

Biecher & Schaal, Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg 2013, Alsace , France

Commended medal winner

£11.00 Bibendum

Zinck, Portrait Range, Pinot Blanc 2012, Alsace, France

Commended medal winner

£9.86 Matthew Clark

Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr, Riesling Grand Cru Rosacker 2013, Alsace, France

Commended medal winner

£12.70 Liberty Wines