Italy: South - White, including Sicily & Sardinia
2016 Gold: 4 Silver: 6 Bronze: 4 Commended: 7
2015 Gold: 2 Silver: 6 Bronze: 2 Commended: 6
As always, we got a wide spread of grape varieties and styles here, from Chardonnay and Sauvignon to Southern classics such as Fiano, odd blends and rarer grapes like the Gold-Listed Rampone, made from Minutolo. As always, a lot of entries fell by the wayside early on – the south has energy rather than consistency – but what was left was a fascinating shapshot of the variety and, at times, value for money on offer from this part of the world.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘These have to be good value for money – £30-£50 on a list. Instead of a rubbishy Sancerre, you can offer something different at that price point.’ Daniel Murray, Berners Tavern
‘I always think of Italian whites as being boring but the best ones are really characterful and original.’ Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader
‘They were foodie wines. They would be good with food because they are rich and complex – with white dense fish – and they had good acidity.’ Julien Sahut, Sexy Fish
‘Overall, despite being from the south, there is a lot of fresh fruit, crispy acidity, no fatness, there is a light hand.’ Luciana Girotto-Beckett, consultant
FOOTNOTE: Includes wines from Campania, Puglia, Basilicata & Calabria.