Home Winners > Winners 2017 > HOUSE WINES: White

Winner Details

House Wine: White

2017 Gold: 8 Silver: 12 Bronze: 14 Commended: 25
2016 Gold: 3 Silver: 8 Bronze: 10 Commended: 23

Wow. From the ridiculous last year (just three Gold medals from a huge entry) to eight this year, and almost unanimous praise from our tasters. Yes, we raised the House Wine threshold from £5.50 to £6, which undoubtedly helped, but only five medals were in this higher price band, and there was no shortage of good wines around the £5 mark.

We’ve regularly seen our panels complaining of issues of confection, over-oaking and soaring alcohol here before, but this year there was an impressive amount of balance in the wines.

Budget winemakers of the world, we at SWA salute you all – but a particular shout-out to Concha y Toro for its Los Gansos Gewürztraminer, which hit top spot for the second year on the trot.

FROM THE TASTING TEAMS

‘The [Pais de Poetas] was better than some of the stuff we’ve tasted at twice the price. It would work anywhere: a wedding venue, bars, gastropubs… it wouldn’t look out of place in a white tablecloth venue.’ James Hocking, The Vineyard Group

‘A really good flight. I judged the same category a few years ago, and you could tell they were price-fighting wines. But these were all really well made for the money.’ Charles Van Wyk, FJB Hotels

‘This category is your work horse, where you’re making most of your money; your business card if you like.’ Gergely Barsi Szabó, Sager + Wilde

‘The best in this category were in that zingy, zesty Sauvignon Blanc style. The ones that split the panel were those with oak. It really does divide people.’ Robert Mason, Cheese at Leadenhall

‘It was encouraging that even the lowest-priced wine here was perfectly good. You can feel confident about buying these. The house white category has come a long way since this competition began.’ Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader

‘I particularly liked the [Los Gansos Gewürztraminer] but it wouldn’t be your only house wine – it would coexist with others.’ Michael Fiducia, Coworth Park Ascot

 

FOOTNOTE: The price limit for House Wine is £6 ex-VAT.

Award winners

Found 59 wines

House Wine: White - <£6 ex-VAT

Boutinot, Cape Heights, Viognier 2016, Western Cape, South Africa

Gold medal winner

Beautiful balance, elegance and freshness led Cape Heights to the Gold podium. ‘Herbal aromas with touches of wet wool lanolin, but good varietal character on the palate, youthful with notes of fresh figs, and on the finish there’s some saline, savoury iodine personality,’ said team leader Olivier Marie, while Richard Allen of Adam’s Restaurant found it ‘very floral with aromatic stone fruit and nice balancing acidity’. An ideal partner for grilled cod with tomato sauce and spinach, said The Sign of the Don’s Carlos Ferreira.

£4.85 Boutinot

Cavit, Terrazze della Luna, Nosiola 2016, Trentino, Italy

Gold medal winner

The first of two House Wine Golds for Cavit, and no wonder, with entries like this. ‘A wine with character, nice intensity of ripe, golden fruit with a touch of minerality, and a very lively palate,’ began Marcin Oziebly of The Wild Rabbit, with team leader Angela Reddin elaborating: ‘Lifted lemon sherbet, apple custard and fennel hints, with some lovely nutty elements combining with a creamy mid-palate. This is lovely, fresh, long and elegant, with great balance.’ Team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW saw this partnered with grilled chicken with lemon and capers.

£5.99 Boutinot

Cawston Cove, Chenin Blanc 2015, Paarl, South Africa

Gold medal winner

The first of three great-value House Wine Golds for Broadland Wineries, this was ‘fresh with good acidity, lemon and lime citrus fruit and green apple notes’, began The Sign of the Don’s Carlos Ferreira, who found it ‘good value for this quality, great for selling in pubs’. ‘Light, easy-drinking and minerally, with a slightly tangy finish,’ agreed Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall. ‘A good apéritif wine,’ concluded team leader Tom Forrest.

£3.37 Broadland Wineries

Pais de Poetas, Chilean Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Central Valley, Chile

Gold medal winner

Another well-deserved Gold for Broadland, this was ‘bright, with a dose of residual sugar, tropical fruits with good acidity and a long candied finish. Cheap and cheerful,’ said Coq d’Argent’s Andrés Ituarte, with Mattin Larraburu of Sexy Fish noting ‘green apple, tropical and citrus fruit, nicely perfumed, light in body’. ‘Very good value, and suitable for a range of establishments,’ added team leader Sam Caporn MW.

£3.62 Broadland Wineries

Reh Kendermann, Cuvée Amélie, Chardonnay 2015, Western Cape, South Africa

Gold medal winner

Ripe fruit, combined with great value for money, earned this Chardonnay its Gold medal. Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels enjoyed its ‘aromas of ripe melon and attractive tropical notes on the nose, then a well-rounded palate with notes of pineapple and guava, finishing nice and fresh’, while team leader Simon Woods highlighted its ‘musky pear and peach fruit – quite weighty on the palate with good balance’. Team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW highlighted its versatility by suggesting a match with ‘either fresh-fish ceviche or carbonara pasta’.

£4.75 Greene King

Boomerang Bay, Chardonnay 2014, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

A worthy Gold winner, packed with rich, ripe fruit and some well-integrated oak. ‘Good weighty guava fruit with a touch of mustiness, and a long and textured palate. It’s simple, but honest and tasty,’ said team leader Simon Woods. ‘Citrus fruit and sweet spices, with great depth and concentration,’ thought Stamatis Iseris of The Strathearn at The Gleneagles Hotel, adding that this would complement Dover sole perfectly.

£6.00 Crown Cellars

Cono Sur, Los Gansos, Gewürztraminer 2016, Maule/Casablanca Valleys, Chile

Gold medal winner By the glass

A Gold for this exuberant and aromatic Gewürz, to match Cono Sur’s House Red Gold. ‘A bright and open nose with lemon peel, nettles, dried fruits and pot pourri aromas,’ began Bleeding Heart Group’s Christopher Delalonde MS, who found it ‘very attractive, showing a lively mid-palate with cleansing and lifting acid structure, and food-oriented weight, leading into a long finish of primary fruit notes’. Team leader Angela Reddin thought this ‘very stylish, with pink grapefruit and papaya, and great length’. Perfectly paired with a Thai green curry, thought team leader Sam Caporn MW.

£5.06 CyT UK

Foncalieu, Le Versant, Viognier, Pays d'Oc 2015, Languedoc, France

Gold medal winner

Fleshy tropical fruit and refreshing acidity took Foncalieu to the top. ‘Gently spiced nose, ginger and cardamom notes, opening to a good mouthfeel on a well-balanced palate. Delicate and approachable,’ said consultant sommelier Rebecca Coates. Team leader Angela Reddin appreciated ‘mangosteen, cape gooseberry and peach notes, with a fleshy palate held in with some good acidity – a match for mild curries’.

£5.95 Fuller's

Boutinot, Los Otros, Pinot Grigio 2016, Central Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

Neil Tabraham of Paris House liked its ‘aromatic, grassy gooseberry nose, clean and fresh, with a slight lemon pith astringent note on the palate balanced by leafy lime freshness, making it a nice versatile food wine’. ‘Crisp, refreshing, green apple, asparagus and lemon, clean and well made, and perfect for drinking on a summer’s day,’ agreed Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels.

£4.99 Boutinot

Casa de Vila Nova, Vila Nova 2016, Vinho Verde, Portugal

Silver medal winner

Simon Cassina of Winexponent enjoyed its ‘lovely aromatic pear drop aromas, fresh and intense, clear taste of apples and lemon’, suggesting that its ‘medium weight can be a perfect match with a cider pork belly dish’.

£5.67 Boutinot

El Molturo, Sauvignon Blanc/Airén 2015, La Mancha, Spain

Silver medal winner

‘Dry and dusty, a fashionable style, refreshing and light, lively fruit and value for money, good with grilled pork,’ said Tanya Mann of Linden House Stansted, with Tamarind of Mayfair’s Chantal Serrano noting ‘lemon and peach aromas, fresh and intense with some texture on the palate’.

£4.25 Majestic Commercial

GCF Exclusif, Les Vignerons, Vermentino/Colombard 2016, Vin de France, France

Silver medal winner

‘Bold, juicy fruit, stone fruits and citrus with some delicate spice notes,’ began team leader Laura Rhys MS, while Benoît Poulain of Adam’s Restaurant enjoyed its ‘explosive aromas of white peach, strong salinity on the attack, lovely nectarine taste and smooth intensity’.

£5.05 Carlsberg UK

GCF Exclusif, Les Vignerons, Muscat/Viognier 2016, Vin de France, France

Silver medal winner

Consultant sommelier Rebecca Coates found ‘floral, orange blossom on the nose with lychee notes, then a palate that offers creamy, delicate drinking with bright floral notes and a lingering finish’. ‘Soft, easy palate, hint of sweetness, good for Asian food,’ added team leader Martin Lam.

£5.00 St Austell Brewery

Riebeek Cellars, Chenin Blanc 2016, Swartland, South Africa

Silver medal winner

Hakkasan Group’s Olivier Gasselin found ‘grassy green fruit with fragrant lime, quite intense on the palate with vegetal notes’, while team leader Laura Rhys MS felt it was ‘good value, with crisp fruit and lively acidity, bright citrus character’.

£4.50 Fuller's

Cavit, Terrazze della Luna, Pinot Grigio 2016, Trentino, Italy

Silver medal winner

‘Nice nose of stone fruits, pear, apple and peach, fresh and delicate on the palate,’ said Mattin Larraburu of Sexy Fish, while Cristian Sanchez of Hotel du Vin Cambridge also found ‘ripe fruit with a fresh contrast of lime and grapefruit, medium-bodied with quite high acidity on the palate’.

£5.99 Boutinot

GCF Exclusif, L'Artisan, Vermentino/Colombard -1, Vin de France, France

Silver medal winner

‘Ripe and aromatic, floral style, good for those who prefer a sweeter style,’ began team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW, with Coq d’Argent’s Andrés Ituarte noting ‘quince, mango, and kiwi fruit notes with a ripe, fruity palate, good value’.

£5.05 Dayla

Cielo, Cortefresca, Pinot Grigio 2015, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering found ‘immediately attractive fruit aromas, light but fresh and balanced’, and thought it ‘perfectly enjoyable by the glass, though it lacks the weight for anything beyond the lightest foods’. ‘Pear drop aromas, soft with decent appley fruit,’ added Tate Catering’s Hamish Anderson.

£4.10 CellarVino

Einig-Zenzen, Roos Estate, Chenin Blanc 2016, Western Cape, South Africa

Silver medal winner

An ‘attractive’ style for Bleeding Heart Group’s Christopher Delalonde MS, who found an ‘exuberant nose of honeysuckle, dried flowers, ripe grapes and hints of marshmallow, acidity adding lift to the palate and notes of bitterness and minerals bringing more weight and length’.

£3.90 CellarVino

Einig-Zenzen, Hilmar Springs, Chardonnay 2015, California, USA

Silver medal winner

‘Bright stone fruit aromas with a hint of melon, round and unctuous, showing a little residual sugar on the palate,’ said consultant sommelier Rebecca Coates, ‘but a good, approachable, easy-drinking style, punching above its weight.’

£4.16 CellarVino

Lobo Loco, Macabeo 2016, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Silver medal winner

‘Fresh citrus with gentle floral aromas, pink grapefruit on the palate followed by a very clean mineral finish,’ said Andre Luis Martins of the Cavalry & Guards Club. ‘Perfect as an aperitif, or for fish dishes such as lemon sole,’ added Simon Cassina of Winexponent.

£4.15 Crown Cellars

Punto de Vista, Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Central Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

‘Full, fleshy style, lovely depth of character with citrus and chalky notes on the palate, hints of waxy cheese rind and a nice touch of complexity,’ said Damien Trinckquel of Galvin Brasserie de Luxe Edinburgh.

£4.59 Greene King

Les Volets, Chardonnay, Pays de la Haute Vallée de l'Aude 2015, Roussillon, France

Bronze medal winner

‘Pure, floral character on the nose, flinty palate with crisp acidity and crunchy plum fruit, refreshing and clean style,’ said Hakkasan Group’s Olivier Gasselin. ‘Good balance, everything in line, with a floral freshness,’ agreed Damien Trinckquel of Galvin Brasserie de Luxe Edinburgh.

£5.85 Boutinot

Casa Ermelinda Freitas, Dona Ermelinda, Branco 2015, Palmela, Portugal

Bronze medal winner

Team leader Tom Forrest liked its ‘attractive nose of herbs and spice with tropical fruit notes, and creamy vanilla oak spice on the palate’, while Tamarind of Mayfair’s Chantal Serrano highlighted ‘buttery honey and camomile with peach and vanilla notes, discreet oak and an intense palate’.

£5.20 Atlantico UK

Nika Tiki, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Marlborough, New Zealand

Bronze medal winner

‘Fresh and zingy, aromatic nose with lots of grapefruit zest, flavours of grapefruit, lemon, lime and tropical passion fruit on the palate,’ said Robert Mason of Cheese at Leadenhall, concluding: ‘Clean, refreshing and value.’

£5.45 Lanchester Wine Cellars

Riebeek Cellars, Capelio, Chenin Blanc 2016, Swartland, South Africa

Bronze medal winner

‘Rich and ripe on the nose, bold stuff with lots of tropical fruit, this will have broad appeal,’ began Tate Catering’s Hamish Anderson, with team leader Laurent Richet MS noting ‘golden apples, floral aromatics with a slight note of bitterness on the finish’.

£4.50 Fuller's

Levin Wines, Le Vin de Levin, Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Loire, France

Bronze medal winner

‘Fresh fruit on a charming nose,’ began Tony Denis of Mosimann’s, continuing: ‘Complexity between apricot and peach fruit and notes of citrus, combining for good freshness overall, with nice acidity. Generous style, and a versatile match for gastro pubs.’

£5.85 Levin Wines

Murviedro, Fauno, Viura/Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Valencia, Spain

Bronze medal winner

Mattin Larraburu of Sexy Fish found a ‘delicate nose of apple, pear and candied citrus, a good fresh attack on the palate with more body than many’, while Coq d’Argent’s Andrés Ituarte highlighted ‘touches of saline minerality balanced with soft fruits, simple but nice, with a good long finish’.

£4.83 Boutinot

Félix Solis, Molino del Sol, Airén -1, Valdepeñas, Spain

Bronze medal winner

A straightforward, fresh and clean style, with our tasting panel finding medium intensity on the palate with light floral notes and subtle, delicate flavours, green fruit freshness and a dry finish.

£4.09 LWC Drinks Ltd (Merchant and Shippers)

Marco de Pegões, Fonte do Nico, Branco 2015, Península de Setúbal, Portugal

Bronze medal winner

‘Lime citrus on the nose, light and a touch austere, but it’s elegant on the palate with good structure and mouthfeel,’ said Neil Tabraham of Paris House, with team leader Simon Woods finding ‘simple and easy pear fruit with slight herbal touches and a pleasant tang to finish’.

£4.53 Majestic Commercial

Concha y Toro, Mountain Range, Chardonnay 2016, Central Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

Team leader Martin Lam found a ‘wet stone waxiness with touches of honeyed richness, quite saline on the palate and aromatic on the finish’, while for consultant sommelier Rebecca Coates it was ‘citrus, lean, fresh and racy, good for summer drinking’.

£4.57 CyT UK

Whistling Duck, Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Griffith, New South Wales, Australia

Bronze medal winner

Federico Forte of Plateau highlighted ‘nice Sauvignon Blanc character, notes of asparagus and kiwi fruit, a little bit of mango and green apple, good acidity with fragrance on the palate and medium length’.

£5.50 Fuller's

Foncalieu, Reserve St Michel, Grenache Blanc, Pays d'Oc -1, Languedoc, France

Bronze medal winner

‘Pear and green apple aromas, quite fresh on the palate with apricot fruit and wet rock mineral notes, good length, too,’ said Plateau’s Federico Forte, with team leader Annette Scarfe MW noting: ‘elegant, with a crisp mineral finish’.

£4.50 Fuller's

Félix Solís Avantis, Casa Vista, Chardonnay 2016, Central Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

‘Uncomplicated, but clean and precise, delicate, bone dry and appealing,’ began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Andre Luis Martins of the Cavalry & Guards Club finding ‘stone fruit and light floral notes, soft apple and spices on a light palate with hints of petrol character’.

£5.93 Matthew Clark

LGI-Wines, Chemin de la Serre, Marsanne/Viognier, Pays d'Oc 2016, Languedoc, France

Bronze medal winner

Agustin Trapero of Avenue highlighted ‘stone fruits and yellow plums, velvety texture and a long finish’, while Tate Catering’s Hamish Anderson noted ‘citrus and peach with green apples, it’s clean, delicate and perfect pouring fare’, and team leader Laurent Richet MS advised: ‘Don’t serve it too cold.’

£5.67 Davy's Wine Merchants

Boutinot, The Listening Station, Chardonnay 2016, Victoria , Australia

Commended medal winner

£5.60 Boutinot

Jack & Gina, Chardonnay 2015, California , USA

Commended medal winner

£4.60 Crown Cellars

Viña La Rosa, La Palma, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£4.50 Fuller's

La Lisse Soie d'Ivoire, Chenin Blanc, Pays de la Haute Vallée de l'Aude 2015, Languedoc , France

Commended medal winner

£5.49 Boutinot

Boutinot, Cape Heights, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Western Cape , South Africa

Commended medal winner

£4.85 Boutinot

Boutinot, Percheron, Chenin Blanc/Viognier 2016, Swartland , South Africa

Commended medal winner

£4.98 Boutinot

Badet Clément, La Cour des Dames, Sauvignon Blanc, Pays d'Oc 2016, Languedoc , France

Commended medal winner

£4.66 Molson Coors

Gable View, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Western Cape , South Africa

Commended medal winner

£5.28 Bibendum

Bellefontaine, Sauvignon Blanc, Pays d'Oc 2016, Languedoc , France

Commended medal winner

£5.15 Boutinot

LGI-Wines, Les Cents Verres, Viognier, Pays d'Oc 2016, Languedoc, France

Commended medal winner

£5.95 Fuller's

Aires Andinos, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Mendoza, Argentina

Commended medal winner

GCF Exclusif, Parlez-Vous La Loire, Chardonnay/Melon, Pays du Val de Loire 2015, Loire, France

Commended medal winner

£5.40 Refreshers

GCF Exclusif, Le Havre de Paix, White, Côtes de Gascogne 2015, South West France, France

Commended medal winner

Araldica, Alasia, Piemonte Cortese 2015, Piedmont , Italy

Commended medal winner

£4.85 Boutinot

Boutinot-Adria Vini, Conviviale, Pinot Grigio della Venezie 2016, Veneto , Italy

Commended medal winner

£5.15 Boutinot

Reh Kendermann, Kumi, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Western Cape, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£4.64 Greene King

Kavaklidere, Sade, Sauvignon Blanc/Emir 2015, Aegean/Cappadocia, Turkey

Commended medal winner

Levin Wines, Vin Cerveaux, Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Loire, France

Commended medal winner

£6.00 Levin Wines

Sieur d'Arques, Aimery, Chardonnay 2016, Languedoc, France

Commended medal winner

£5.25 Crown Cellars

Man, Padstal, Chardonnay 2016, Coastal Region, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£5.50 Enotria&Coe

Man, Free-run Steen, Chenin Blanc 2016, Coastal Region, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£5.50 Enotria&Coe

Viña Carrasco, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Central Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

Félix Solís Avantis, Casa Vista, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Central Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£5.93 Matthew Clark

Borsao, Selección Blanco 2015, Campo de Borja, Spain

Commended medal winner

£5.65 Boutinot

Michel Servin, Blanc 2015, Vin de France, France

Commended medal winner