Award-winning wines chosen by UK’s top sommeliers

Sommelier Edit Awards, alongside the UK’s top sommeliers, tasted a selection of wines that are perfectly suited for restaurant wine lists. The results are in!

The Sommelier Edit Awards judges in action

Native Italian Reds, Alternatives to Burgundy and Rosé wines were the three new categories in front of the expert palates at the latest Sommelier Edit Awards session. The sommelier judges were impressed by the overall standard and were intent on discovering those wines with potential to find a place on the wine list and be great partners for food.

The Native Italian Red category highlighted the excellent quality available from Chianti particularly, with a number of them scoring over 90 points. “The Chianti Riservas showed particularly well in this line up,” commented one of the judges. “The complexity of fruit and tannic balance on some of the wines were outstanding.” Another judge commented, ” I particularly thought the Gran Selezione wines were showing well. Great ripeness of fruit and acidity in these wines which means they have the capability to age.”

Given the current prices of Burgundy on the market, due to scarcity and consequent price hikes means that all good sommeliers have been looking for great recommendations that have the Burgundy style but not the price tag. Sommelier Edit’s new category Burgundy Alternatives will seek out the very best producers who are making great wines that are comparable in quality and style but not in cost.

“The Chianti Classico Riservas showed particularly well in this line up, I particularly thought the Gran Selezione wines were showing well. Great ripeness of fruit and acidity in these wines which means they have the capability to age.”

The judges had the chance to taste wines with a historical, stylist or genetic connection to Burgundy, not just pinots and chardonnays. “This is a great way to get sommeliers thinking about how they can give diners the chance to expand their range and fraction of the price of Burgundy,” said one chair judge. “There were some interesting wines here,” she continued, “my feeling is that there is a big opportunity for more great producers to sell in this style of wines on the wines. That way sommeliers can over some great value options on their lists.”

Rosé is not just a wine for summer these days and the variety of styles prove that. Whether pale, Provençal or a darker shade of pink, the rosé category continues to attract drinkers and please palates. “The rosés on taste included some good examples of the versatility of how these wines can work well in a restaurant environment especially when it comes to offering wines by the glass and great wines for starters and apértifs,” commented the chair judge on this panel. “We would have liked to have seen some more complex rosés in this category as this is what sommeliers are looking for right now.”

Award-winning wines chosen by UK’s top sommeliers

Sommelier Edit Awards, alongside the UK’s top sommeliers, tasted a selection of wines that are perfectly suited for restaurant wine lists. The results are in!

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