A British sauvignon blanc wine has been named one of many “best in the world” in a blind tasting competitors.
Gloucestershire-based winemakers Woodchester Valley received the ‘Master’ medal on the Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters awards within the £20-£30 class of unoaked entries.
The wine, a 2021 classic, beat entrants from extra conventional winemaking international locations corresponding to France, Italy and New Zealand. It retails for £21.95 on the winery’s web site.
The judges stated the result’s a “perfect example of why we taste blind – partly to leave any preconceptions behind us, and partly for the absolute joy of surprise when something unexpected turns out to be wonderful”.
They added: “And this wine was, certainly, fantastic. It begins with an intense gooseberry nostril, constructing to disclose undertones of ripe lemon. On the palate there may be vivid, taut acidity and a juicy mouthfeel.
“Very well balanced, there’s just a hint of sweetness on the finish, which is long and textured. A very engaging wine, perfect for matching with asparagus or goat’s cheese.”
The Woodchester Valley winery close to Stroud was established by lawyer Fiona Shiner in 2007 after she moved from Hong Kong to the Cotswolds. Her daughter Chloe, 34, joined the household enterprise in 2018.
Mrs Shiner stated they didn’t know there was a ‘Masters’ award above a gold medal so the award was “a very nice shock once we’d figured it out”.
She added she was impressed by her love of sauvignon blancs grown in cool climates and a historic reference to historic vineyards within the Cotswolds.
She had learn that historic vineyards have been recorded within the Domesday Book of 1086 and that the wines have been “little inferior to the French in sweetness”, in accordance with the twelfth century historian William of Malmesbury.
‘Eyebrows have been raised’
But she stated “eyebrows were raised” when she first planted sauvignon blanc vines in 2015.
Success got here quick nevertheless, with Woodchester’s 2018 classic profitable a gold medal on the 2019 Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters.
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In a submit on their web site celebrating their newest Masters standing, the household winemakers stated: “From the first taste of the juice from the 2021 harvest we were excited about its potential and are immensely proud of winning this award.
“It is an outstanding end result for our small Cotswold winery.”
‘The ultimate accolade’
The family business produces more than 100,000 bottles of still and sparkling wine every year. It is one of just a few British vineyards producing sauvignon blanc grapes, which are traditionally grown in warmer climates.
The Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters is run in collaboration with the London-based company The Drinks Business. The judges tasted 146 wines, awarding Gold, Silver or Bronze medals to the top wines.
Two entries – the British wine and the Pride and Glory sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand – were awarded the title of Sauvignon Blanc Masters, described as “the last word accolade” by organisers.
Two Indian sauvignon blancs were also recognised at the awards, which the judges said were “notably encouraging”.
Source: information.sky.com”