Italy: South Reds, including Sicily & Sardinia
2015: Gold 4 Silver 12 Bronze 4 Commended 7
2014: Gold 3 Silver 8 Bronze 9 Commended 9
As prices have headed northwards, so this section of the competition has grown in importance – a way of getting wines that are distinctively Italian, but without the big-name DOC price-tags to match. And for sure, there were some great wines here under £10, mostly with joyously accented southern grapes such as Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese and Primitivo.
This being the south, it wasn’t consistent. Some teams loved their flights, others were underwhelmed. And while not all the pricier wines were appreciated, there were enough successful examples to suggest that, however good the lower-end wines were, southern wines needn’t all be about the price.
Star Performer
Well done to both Rapitalà and San Marzano for scoring Golds in both the Red and White Southern Italy sections from their respective strongholds of Sicily and Puglia.
FOOTNOTE: Includes wines from Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily & Sardinia.
From the Tasting Teams
‘You can’t make breakfast wine in southern Italy – it’s just too hot.’ Sandro Lyhs, Oxo Tower Bar
‘This was one of most consistent flights that we’ve had. The wines were fresh with good drinkability. At £5-7 we were all agreed that they were very good.’ Garreth Ferreira, Launceston Place
‘At the top end these were not so good – whack in expensive oak and charge for it – but at entry level these wines have real interest and excitement, being definitely Italian, but with a personality that stands out.’ Jade Koch, team leader
‘Many had a beautiful freshness – a lovely herbaceous quality that would also make them very flexible when it comes to food matching.’ Debbie Smith, 21212
‘At the entry level these wines showed very well and would certainly work on an Italian restaurant list. But they can find a really good home elsewhere, in gastropubs, with burgers and slow-cooked meats. These are wines that stand out as Italian and are also good fun!’ Andrea Fasan, La Petite Maison
‘I expected more good wines. This flight was quite disappointing.’ Xavier Rousset MS, Texture, 28°-50°
‘These are discovery wines, so a hand-sell at the upper prices, but great as points of difference for the flavour-adventurous.’ Caroline Brangé, 28°-50° Mayfair