Still Wines Dominate in UK Wine Industry's National Competition

The industry's annual national wine awards - The English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition – have delivered a record-breaking haul of medal winners and from the largest number of wines ever entered.

327 wines were entered from over 90 producers from all over the UK, of which 284 won medals and a further 26 gaining Highly Commended. In total, some 95% of all the entries won an award. 19 Gold, 124 Silver and 141 Bronze medals were awarded to vineyards and producers, including first time entrants and other, longer-established producers reinforcing their consistent award-winning credentials.

This year it was the still wines, many from the 2014 vintage, which proved to be the winners, scooping over half the Gold medals and 9 of the 13 Trophies already announced.

The Competition is an opportunity for producers of all sizes and from across England and Wales to compete against each other. The wines were judged over two days in Devizes by a team of six Masters of Wine and marked to international standards. Chaired by Anthony Foster MW, the panel also comprised: Dee Blackstock MW, Sally Easton MW, David Bird MW, Robin Crameri MW and Rebecca Hull MW.

The competition is this year has been sponsored by Waitrose. Rebecca Hull MW, English Wine Buyer at Waitrose, who joined the judging panel for the first time this year, commented: "We are delighted to be sponsoring this year's UKVA competition. English & Welsh wines are continuing to show exceptionally strong sales growth at Waitrose, and we're very happy to be able to strengthen our close relationship with our national wine industry even further by supporting this judging of the best that the UK has to offer."

13 Trophies were awarded to different style categories of wines and volumes produced, acknowledging smaller producers as well as the larger commercial ones.

The UK's top three most widely planted grape varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Bacchus – dominated the trophies, producing winners in all but one category: the still rosé.

Chapel Down continued its successful run of accolades by retaining the Trophy for Most Outstanding Large Production Wine (over 10,000 litres) with their Bacchus 2014 – they won the same trophy last year with their 2013 vintage.

Another highly successful 2014 Bacchus, from Albourne Estate, scooped two trophies – Most Outstanding Single Varietal Wine and Most Outstanding Large Production Wine from the 2014 vintage.

Most Outstanding Sparkling Wine Trophy was won by Dorset sparkling wine producer Langham Wine Estate – continuing its run of success; its previous vintage, 2010, having come out top in a tasting of over 100 English sparkling wines last year in the Judgement of Parsons Green, organised by Stephen Skelton MW.

The wine to take the Most Outstanding Small Production Trophy also won the Most Outstanding Sparkling Rosé trophy – Plumpton Estate The Dean Blush Brut NV, from the UK's only wine studies centre specialising in viticulture and winemaking, Plumpton College.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were also proven winners in the still wine stakes, with Gusbourne Estate Guinevere 2013 (100% Chardonnay) taking the Most Outstanding Oaked White Wine, with the Most Outstanding Red Wine trophy going to Sharpham Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Précoce 2013. New Hall Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé 2013 also took the trophy for Most Outstanding Large Production Wine of Any Other Year.

A new sweet wine produced from Bacchus scooped two trophies: Most Outstanding Sweet Wine and Most Outstanding Unchaptalised Wine: Hattingley Valley Entice 2014.

This year's winner of the Best Presented Award went to Herefordshire producer Castle Brook Vineyard Classic Cuvée 2009.

Anthony Foster MW, Chair of Judges, and a long standing member of the judging team, commented on how impressed he was by the standard of entries. "The wines were all very good, with very few scoring below commended. What was really impressive were the very clear cut styles of wines emerging. There are clearly some very skilled winemakers putting together some great wines. The competition is judged on an international basis, so a gold standard wine in England would be a gold standard anywhere in the world.

"The sparklings are always outstanding, but this year the 2014 still white wines probably surpassed, particularly the way Bacchus has come through and become a style that is just getting better and better."

Three remaining trophies are yet to be unveiled and will be announced at the industry's annual awards lunch, taking place at the end of July: the prestigious Winemaker of the Year (The McAlpine Trophy) and the Wine of the Year Trophy (The Gore-Browne Trophy) together with the English Wine Producers Communicator of the Year Trophy. The Communicator of the Year recognise the contribution to the UK wine industry that is made by so many and is presented to an individual or business outside the wine industry that has, through their work, raised awareness in the industry and its wines. Nominations for this award are submitted by members of the industry and the winner is selected by a panel of English Wine Producers member producers.

The results in full will shortly be available onwww.englishwineproducers.com and www.ukva.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition is organised by the United Kingdom Vineyards Association, and this year took place in Devizes, hosted by the Wessex Vineyards Association.

The English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition is the only competition in the world judged entirely and only ever by Masters of Wine, bringing with them their wealth of experience, expertise and tasting to international standards.

Interviews with the organisers or the Chairman of Judges can be arranged. Please contact Julia Trustram Eve, English Wine Producers, tel: 01536 772264 or email julia@englishwineproducers.com

A copy of the full results can be emailed – please contact julia@englishwineproducers.com

The following trophies were awarded:

Vintners' Trophy - The most outstanding sparkling wine
Langham Wine Estate Classic Cuvée 2011

Jack Ward Memorial Salver - The most outstanding large production wine – 2014 vintage
Albourne Estate Bacchus 2014

McNie Trophy - The most outstanding oaked white wine
Gusbourne Estate Guinevere 2013

Wine Guild Trophy - The most outstanding large production wine – any other year
New Hall Pinot Noir Rosé 2013

Tom Day Trophy - The most outstanding single varietal wine
Albourne Estate Bacchus 2014

Dudley Quirk Memorial Trophy - The most outstanding large production wine (>10,000 litres)
Chapel Down Bacchus 2014

President's Trophy - The most outstanding small production wine (Plumpton Estate The Dean Blush Brut NV

Waitrose Rosé Trophy - The most outstanding still rosé wine
Meopham Valley Vineyard Rosé 2014

Bob Lindo Trophy - The most outstanding sparkling rosé wine
Plumpton Estate The Dean Blush Brut NV

Bernard Theobald Trophy - The most outstanding red wine
Sharpham Vineyard Pinot Noir and Précoce 2013

Berwick Trophy - The most outstanding large production unchaptalised still wine
Hattingley Valley Entice 2014

Stefanowicz Trophy – The most outstanding sweet wine
Hattingley Valley Entice 2014

Montagu Trophy - Best presented wine
Castle Brook Vineyard Classic Cuvée 2009