New World: Other White Varietals & Blends
2016 Gold: 5 Silver: 4 Bronze: 4 Commended: 5
2015 Gold: 4 Silver: 3 Bronze: 2 Commended: 5
On this evidence, the New World producers are doing good things with two styles: biggish Rhône blends (which we’ve seen for a while in the Sommelier Wine Awards) and lighter styles like Verdelho and Albariño, which have started to appear in the past year or two.
This section used to be full of oak, alcohol and things that didn’t work. Now it’s genuinely interesting, as the increasing tally of Golds (none in 2013, one in 2014, four last year) shows.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘There was diversity, value, quality, concentration.’ Diana Rollan, Hakkasan London
‘They’re exciting and food-friendly. They are hand-sells, but you can surprise guests with something unusual and educate them a little bit as well.’ Sunaina Sethi, JKS Restaurants
‘The lighter ones were approachable – but perhaps more aperitif than food wines.’ Sue Jones, The Harrow at Little Bedwyn
“There were good aromatics [in the Albariños], and freshness, too.” Marco Marcuzzo, Skylon