Latest news with #LondonWineCompetition
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The 'wine of the year' is about to launch in Australia for $45.99 - but you'll have to move quickly if you want to score a bottle
A Chardonnay recently dubbed 'Wine of the Year' is about to land on Aussie shores - but only for a limited time. New Zealand 's Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay 2022 has just come off the back of being named Wine of the Year at the London Wine Competition, and Champion Chardonnay at NZ's National Wine Awards. And on July 8, Aussies will be able to score a $45.99 bottle (or three) for themselves at Dan Murphy's. The Chardonnay is the latest blend flipping the style's 'granny' reputation on its head, with the wine crafted from some of the oldest vines on the Isabel Estate site. It undergoes 100 per cent wild fermentation to result in a wine of 'power and elegance' with notes of melon, citrus and vanilla and has a smoother, creamier base than many others on the market. 'We keep the fruit on lees for an extended period so the flavour continues to develop and also allow the fruit and oak notes to intertwine well. It is a true global style that resonates with sommeliers and lovers of high-quality Chardonnay,' Jeremy McKenzie, Chief Winemaker at Isabel Estate, told FEMAIL. Jeremy is delighted to see Chardonnay making waves again after a stint that saw other varieties take centre stage. 'It has always had a bit of a stereotype as a rich, oak-heavy white wine that you'd see your grandma drinking at family lunch. But more and more producers are working hard to shine the spotlight on Chardonnay as a vibrant, stonefruit-forward white wine with great acidity, minerality and balance,' he said. Jeremy McKenzie, Chief Winemaker at Isabel Estate (pictured), says producers are working hard to shine the spotlight on Chardonnay as a vibrant, stonefruit-forward white wine 'I think if we continue to share the story around these judicious restrained oak used Chardonnays we will see more interest in the varietal to a wider audience. 'I personally hope people keep an interest in chardonnay as it's a wonderful, versatile grape that's widely grown both here in Australia and New Zealand and more broadly, Burgundy.' Jeremy said their team is super passionate, taste widely and particularly love Chardonnay from Tasmania, the Yarra and Chablis. This, he says, lends to their distinctive style. In terms of cellaring and pairings, Jeremy said the wine is 'super cellarable', 'can be a highlight on a special occasion' and works brilliantly with seafood. 'The wine is super cuisine friendly - a favourite is Manuka Smoked Marlborough salmon,' he said. 'But it is also great with an octopus linguine.' The Wild Barrique has only just been launched with Australian distributors so the wine isn't on any restaurant lists Down Under yet... but that may not be for long. 'Keep an eye out,' Jeremy hints.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sussex vineyard scoops four medals at competition
A vineyard on the Sussex-Kent border has scooped four medals at the 2025 London Wine Competition. Bewl Water Vineyard, Wadhurst, was awarded a gold, two silvers, and a bronze at the eighth annual competition, which took place on March 24 and 25. The competition is regarded as a significant accolade in the global wine industry, with wines needing to score highly in quality, value and packaging to be recognised. Judges come from a variety of sectors including retail, hospitality, and the travel industry. Ashton Kirby, wine grower at Bewl Water Vineyard, said: "The authority of a London Wine Competition award comes from the power of being judged across quality, value and appearance, the high calibre of the judges, and the intensely competitive product set. "We are thrilled that our wines grown on the Sussex/Kent border performed so well. "These gold, two silver, and bronze medals demonstrate that we are creating the types of wines that restaurants and retailers want to use, and wines that drinkers enjoy choosing and consuming." Bewl Water Vineyard, which has some of the oldest vines in England, produces only a few thousand bottles each year. The vineyard's success at the competition accounted for nearly one-third of all the medals awarded to English wines. The vineyard's blanc de noirs 2020 was awarded a gold medal, one of only two English wines to do so. The judges described it as "golden-hued with subtle brioche and red apple notes, the palate is crisp and refined with soft orchard fruit, fine bubbles, and a poised mineral finish that speaks to quiet complexity". The rosé de noirs 2021 and old vine Bacchus 2023 were both awarded silver medals, two of only four English wines to receive this recognition. The rosé de noirs was described as "pale pink with a fine mousse and fragrant red berry aromas, this elegant rosé reveals strawberry, cherry, and a hint of citrus on the palate with bright acidity and a graceful finish". The old vine bacchus was described as "pale green-gold with elderflower, citrus zest and soft herbs, the palate is dry and aromatic with vibrant acidity and a crisp, zesty finish that reflects English wine character beautifully". The blanc de blancs 2021 was awarded a bronze medal, one of only eight English wines to do so. The judges described it as "bright and floral with jasmine and blossom leading into lemon peel and citrus zest, this fruit-driven wine is clean and expressive, finishing with clarity, freshness, and aromatic lift".
Time Out
24-04-2025
- Business
- Time Out
Cape winery scoops global award
Cape wine lovers, raise a glass! Hasher Family Wines in the scenic Hemel-en-Aarde Valley has been crowned Winery of the Year at the 2025 London Wine Competition. The boutique estate from the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus wowed an international panel of sommeliers, wine buyers and judges with its Ernest Pinot Noir winning plaudits and the top trophy at the eighth outing for this international wine award. Unlike many other wine shows that focus purely on what's in the glass, the judging at the London Wine Competition also factors in quality, value and packaging. A little bit like we all do when deciding which bottle off the shelf is going to deliver bang for our buck. Hasher's Ernest Pinot Noir impressed the judges with its peppery spice, chewy tannins, and sleek modern design. "Very 'now' modern expressive packaging," noted UK importer David Harvey, while fellow judge Francesco Fronzo praised its complexity and elegant label design. The win is a proud moment for co-owners Frederik and Céline Haspeslagh. The Ernest Pinot Noir – named after their eldest son – reflects the winery's ethos of blending traditional techniques with contemporary flair. "This recognition from the London Wine Competition is a meaningful moment for us," says Celine, co-owner of Hasher Family Wines. "It inspires us to keep sharing our passion with wine lovers across the world. We look forward to welcoming you to the farm and raising a glass of Ernest together." Can't make it to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley just yet? The estate's Wine Club offers early access to the wines on release, plus free delivery, complimentary estate tastings and invitations to special events on the farm.
