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Winner Details


Prosecco

2014: Gold: 3; Silver: 5; Bronze: 7; Commended: 5
2013: Gold: 1; Silver: 5; Bronze: 5
Must-list status: 100%
Overall performance SWA 2014: B


Prosecco might have all the credibility when it comes to wine that One Direction do when it comes to music, but it’s every bit as bankable as the boy band. Yet while our judges rarely approach this flight with unalloyed whoops of joy, this year – as well as appreciating its cash-cow status – they were pleasantly surprised by what they found.

‘There was good value at both ends of the flight, and the standard was pretty good,’ said The Gilbert Scott’s Giancarlo Cuccuru. ‘You are looking for value for money at the cheaper end, but when you start to charge more you need to hand sell and this is where quality Prosecco with a little more character can come in.’

How easy it would be to charge more for Prosecco was a controversial issue.

Some wines didn’t medal because our tasters felt they would be unable to sell them. ‘The English public,’ intoned Stefano Marro of Caravaggio Restaurant, ‘is not ready to pay that kind of money for Prosecco.’

That said, the Bisol Crede at over £14 showed that some judges were more optimistic about the chances of moving ‘proseccistas’ upmarket, particularly if they were buying on style rather than just on the name.

‘People that drink it wouldn’t drink English sparkling,’ argued team leader Tom Forrest. ‘It would be too tart.’
One thing everyone was agreed on, however: don’t try to match it with food.

FOOTNOTE: for rosé prosecco, look in the Other Sparkling Rosé section


From the Tasting Teams


‘Prosecco is a must list, both as an alternative to higher quality sparkling wines, but also, increasingly, as a lighter style enjoyed in its own right. More expensive Prosecco needs a hand sell, so people aren’t disappointed that it doesn’t taste like Champagne.’ Ignacio Campos, Hawksmoor Seven Dials

‘An extra £2 means an extra £8 on a list, so that’s a big step up.’ Julien Sahut, China Tang at The Dorchester

‘If you need to offer a classic Prosecco, you are looking for a light style, maybe with a hint of stone fruit, softly sparkling, slightly peachy, rounded; a gentle style and good value for money.’
Ronan Sayburn MS, consultant


Award winners

Found 20 wines

Sparkling: Prosecco

Bisol, Crede Prosecco Superiore Valdobbiadene 2013, Veneto, Italy

Gold medal winner

Elegance and subtlety won the day here, with Olivier Marie of Coq d'Argent commenting on the 'restrained fruit, white flowers and apple blossom', while Hotel du Vin Brighton's Zigmars Grinbergs noted 'pineapple and mango', and the ripeness of the fruit.Try with white asparagus, parmesan and other hard cheeses.

£14.31 Bibendum

Cavit, Lunetta Prosecco NV, Veneto, Italy

Gold medal winner Food MatchBy the glass

Elegance, versatility and value gave Cavit not just Gold but a highly coveted By The Glass spot and a Food Match gong.

'Soft, round, peachy stone fruit, with rounded creamy acidity and lemon sherbet on the finish,' said consultant Ronan Sayburn MS.

'Great mousse and a lush fruit finish of yellow apples and quince,' said Garry Clark of The Chester Grosvenor. Match with seafood.

£6.65 Boutinot

Val d'Oca, Argento Prosecco Treviso Extra Dry 2012, Veneto, Italy

Gold medal winner

The balance between florality and bright orchard fruit, its forgiving crispness and the citrus-infused finish made this Prosecco stand out from the crowd. Light blossom character alongside lovely acids and a lush, crisp finish makes it an ideal partner for either shellfish or white fish, or for a sweet pastry.

£7.50 PLB

Torri della Marca, Treviso Extra Dry Prosecco NV, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

'Fresh white jasmine mixes with hawthorn, apple and lime blossom alongside aromas of peach and nectarine, while the pear-infused palate shows good structure and a lovely mousse,' said Olivier Marie of Coq d'Argent.

£7.49 Majestic Commercial

Soligo, Cuvée Solicum Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry NV, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

Zesty on the finish, this shows intense citrusy character alongside jasmine and hawthorn blossom notes.

'Camomile and green tea, apple and green almond', noted Zigmars Grinbergs of Hotel du Vin Brighton.

£9.63 Eurowines

San Simone, Il Concerto Prosecco Brut NV, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy

Silver medal winner

'Ripe and taut, with a pumice-stone, mineral edge, this offers a good mix of flavours and a fine sense of place,' said team leader Simon Woods.

£9.18 Eurowines

Boutinot, Le Dolci Colline Prosecco Brut NV, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

Honeysuckle, acacia honey, daffodils and hawthorn mix on the nose, while the delicate lemon/lime palate has tart acidity and good length. 'Great value for money, with its attractive floral notes,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW.

£6.25 Boutinot

Riondo, Prosecco Extra Dry NV, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

Langoustine and shellfish are the dishes of choice for this popular, textured Prosecco, with its delicate aromas of white flowers and its gentle mousse. Flavours of pears, almond and a hint of spice mix with sherbet notes.

£7.50 Moreno Wines, Try Wines

Bacio della Luna, Prosecco Spumante NV, Veneto, Italy

Bronze medal winner

Pale lemon in colour, with light fruit on the nose, an attractive mineral character, and notes of roses, tropical fruit flavours and lemon sherbet on the finish.

£6.00 Greene King

Bedin, Treviso Prosecco Extra Dry NV, Veneto, Italy

Bronze medal winner

Giancarlo Cuccuru of The Gilbert Scott commented: 'Fresh on the nose with a nice lemon character'; while Zigmars Grinbergs of Hotel du Vin Brighton said: 'Deeper character, with more interesting exotic fruit flavours.'

£8.50 Jascots Wine Merchants

Ruggeri, Vecchie Viti Prosecco Superiore 2012, Veneto, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'Rich and textural, with some earthy depth and character alongside light peach flavours,' said team leader Jenny Mackenzie.

£15.80 Enotria&Coe

Fantinel, One & Only Single Vineyard Prosecco Brut 2012, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy

Bronze medal winner

Complex, with restrained floral notes, a creamy texture and some depth.

'Try with cheese pastry dishes,' advised team leader Jenny Mackenzie, noting the steely character and herbacious tang.

£10.99 Matthew Clark

Bisol, Cartizze Prosecco Superiore Valdobbiadene 2012, Veneto, Italy

Bronze medal winner

White roses blend effortlessly with almond on the nose, with hawthorn blossom in the wings. Mineral-infused lemon zest on the palate adds to the complexity.

£22.85 Bibendum

Botter, Corte Alta Prosecco NV, Veneto, Italy

Bronze medal winner

A pleasant nose of pear, peach and blossom leads to a well balanced, off-dry palate with tangy apple and sherbet. Great value.

£6.29 Majestic Commercial

Domenico de Bertiol, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene NV, Veneto, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'Rounded and tangy, this is lively and balanced, with plenty of flesh, some soft apple notes and a good finish,' said team leader Simon Woods.

£8.35 Boutinot

Bedin, Asolo Prosecco Superiore Brut NV, Veneto, Italy

Commended medal winner

£9.70 Società Agricola Colli Asolani

Fantinel, Extra Dry Prosecco NV, Veneto, Italy

Commended medal winner

£9.49 Matthew Clark

Val d'Oca, Gran Cru Prosecco Extra Dry 2012, Veneto , Italy

Commended medal winner

£7.50 PLB

Compagnia del Vino, Col de' Salici Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Brut 2012, Veneto , Italy

Commended medal winner

Soligo, Rive di Soligo Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Dry Millesimato 2013, Veneto , Italy

Commended medal winner

£11.83 Eurowines