Other Sparkling Rosé
2018 GOLD: 3 SILVER: 9 BRONZE: 3 COMMENDED: 10
2017 GOLD: 2 SILVER: 10 BRONZE: 4 COMMENDED: 14
There were two distinct stories here: the pricier, elegant English rosés and the cheaper, sometimes quirkier offerings from other parts of the world. If the former are, in the eyes of many sommeliers, better-priced champagne replacements, the latter are a great place to go hunting for bargains. The Pongracz rosé, for instance, at sub-£9 is an absolute steal.
With the more sun-filled 2015 vintage likely to be fuelling the English pinks for next year’s Sommelier Wine Awards, it will be interesting to see whether the extra ripeness (and flavour) drives an even bigger uplift in medals here in 2019.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘The quality is going up and up every year. If the English sparkling wine scene continues to grow like this it’s only going to get more recognition internationally.’ Andrés Ituarte, Coq d’Argent
‘They’re very English – taut, poised, tight, crunchy red fruit, really refreshing, pretty, classic wines – though as prices creep up they don’t look like great value.’ Sam Caporn MW, team leader
‘English rosé at the same price as champagne, it’s difficult – people would rather go with champagne.’ Christoph Hons, Park Chinois
‘I was expecting better from the non-English rosés. We were looking for something fuller-bodied, yeastier, more refined.’ Cosimo Di Totero, Chiltern Firehouse
‘[In the non-English pinks] the value was acceptable, but there was not much that had the wow factor.’ Andre Luis Martins, Cavalry & Guards Club