Home Winners > Winners 2019 > HOUSE WINES: White

Winner Details

House Wine: White

2019  GOLD: 3     SILVER: 15            BRONZE: 9           COMMENDED: 24
2018  GOLD: 4     SILVER: 13            BRONZE: 7           COMMENDED: 21

It’s hard to believe that when the Sommelier Wine Awards started in 2007 our cut-off for House Wines was £4. Now it’s £6, with the vast majority of our medal winners comfortably over the £5 mark. Nowhere are the rising prices of wine production more obvious.

So much for the bad news. On the plus side, our tasters found a lot of really decent wines here at the kind of prices that still allow you to make a decent margin. Most of them (unsurprisingly) were in the ‘clean and fresh’ rather than ‘sweet and oaky’ ballpark, but that was seen as a positive by our tasters.

FROM THE TASTING TEAMS

‘Even at the entry level, around £3.50, they were delivering quite a lot.’ Raphael Thierry, Street XO

‘It’s important that a restaurant’s house wine has a bit of body, but the difficult thing is finding balance.’ Marco Marcuzzo, Aster Restaurant

‘We found a lot of aromatic flavours and classic styles in some of them. I’d be happy with these. They were really worth it when it came to price and flavour, even for food pairing.’ Elisa Soggia, Kai Mayfair

‘You never know what to expect from this flight! Some of these were food wines, not just for by-the-glass, and that’s quite exciting.’ Laurent Richet MS, team leader

‘To have a great wine list, you should start with a great house wine.’ Chiara Sieni, Bottles Group

‘I’m looking for things that are crowd-pleasers, that tick boxes, and they were great today.’ James Fryer, Woodhead 17

Award winners

Found 51 wines

House Wine: White - <£6 ex-VAT

Casa Ermelinda Freitas, Dona Ermelinda Branco 2018, Palmela, Portugal

Gold medal winner

For Chiara Sieni of Bottles Group this impressive Gold medal winner opened with ‘a ripe apple and smoky character, as well as creamy and buttery notes, all very well balanced by a lively acidity, and with a delicate hazelnut hint on the finish’. Sonal Clare of Purnell’s Restaurant noted ‘honeydew melon and a lovely texture’, adding praise for its ‘balanced, honeyed notes on the palate, combined with an exotic sweetness’.

£6.00 Atlantico UK

Cintila, White 2017, Península de Setúbal, Portugal

Gold medal winner

This Gold-worthy Portuguese white was praised by Charlie Carter of Ten Green Bottles, who found a nose that was ‘grapey, with lychee and spice’ leading to ‘a soft palate with the addition of some pithy grapefruit character’, while 67 Pall Mall’s Beatrice Bessi picked up hints of ‘fresh rose petals counterbalanced with a lovely refreshing palate, and a hint of salinity, too’. Nelio Pinto of Candlesticks spoke highly of ‘warm oranges, pineapple and banana on the palate’, before suggesting it as ‘a great by-the-glass choice’.

£5.81 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

The Wine People, Frederico, Pinot Grigio 2018, Sicily, Italy

Gold medal winner

This Gold winner stood out for its ‘dry, aromatic, lemon and lime peel character’, according to Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair, while team leader Andres Ituarte enjoyed its ‘fresh, grapey palate and long finish that shows some femininity’. Cavalry & Guards Club’s Andre Luis Martins found it to be ‘aromatic, with a fresh citrus character’, while team leader Carlos Ferreira praised its ‘well-balanced palate and long, crisp finish’, before adding that the ‘price is fantastic’.

£5.40 Frederic Robinson

Broadland Wineries, Cawston Crossing, Chenin Blanc 2018, Western Cape, South Africa

Silver medal winner

Dave Cushley of Prestonfield House enjoyed this wine’s ‘fragrant lime and elderflower notes that follow up on the palate, good acidity, good intensity of flavour and a little petillance on the finish’.

£3.40 Broadland Wineries

WX Brands, El Molturo, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Spain, Spain

Silver medal winner

Chiara Sieni of Bottles Group thought the wine had an aromatic nose of ‘fresh white flowers and elderflower, with a ripe lemon and lime palate and a balancing, vibrant acidity’, while team leader Laurent Richet MS noted ‘a herbal character with lemon, gooseberry and fresh mint’.

£4.79 Majestic Commercial

Riondo, Castelforte, Garganega 2017, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

The Dorchester’s Christopher Delalonde MS noted: ‘A floral nose of white flowers with hints of spice and minerals. Well structured with a dense mid-palate, the alcohol brings this power that would make this a good food wine. There is great balance throughout and a long finish of primary fruit.’

£5.98 Moreno Wines, Inverarity Morton

Three Choirs, Willow Brook 2018, Gloucestershire, England

Silver medal winner

Dave Cushley of Prestonfield House described a ‘punchy, fragrant, rich, inviting nose; a nicely intense palate with fruit in abundance’, while team leader Jade Koch found ‘a lime and passion fruit nose with a freshly squeezed lemon palate that would be great with sautéed scallops or fish and chips’.

£6.00 Three Choirs Vineyards Ltd

DFJ Vinhos, Portada, Winemaker's Selection, Branco 2018, Lisbon, Portugal

Silver medal winner

Rémi Cousin of Le Gavroche found ‘candied aromas of orange and rhubarb followed by a velvety, juicy mouthfeel and a refreshing finish’, while Woodhead 17’s James Fryer, commented on the ‘delicate, floral, pear flesh palate. So elegant!’

£5.95 Portugalia Wines UK

Cielo e Terra, Primi Soli, Pinot Grigio 2017, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

For team leader Nigel Lister this had a ‘very floral, gewürtzy nose with lychee and rose; a slight salinity on the finish and a lifted freshness that makes for a very user-friendly wine’.

£5.49 LWC Drinks Ltd (Merchant and Shippers)

Cielo e Terra, Primi Soli, Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

Chiara Sieni of Bottles Group thought the wine showed notes of ‘baked pastries and butter with a creamy palate’, while team leader Laurent Richet MS admired the ‘very aromatic peach and lychee nose, lovely, elegant palate and texture, and generous length. A beautiful wine by the glass.’

£5.49 LWC Drinks Ltd (Merchant and Shippers)

Cramele Recas, Pinot Grigio 2017, Banat, Romania

Silver medal winner

Markus Dilger of Dilger Sommelier Selection noted: ‘A floral nose with hints of green apple and pear, melon, peach and citrus. The palate shows good balanced acidity with asparagus, white pepper over melon and decent length.’

£5.25 LWC Drinks Ltd (Merchant and Shippers)

Finca Constancia, Altozano, Verdejo/Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Toledo, Spain

Silver medal winner

Moio Restaurant’s Carolina W Seibel found ‘warm, yellow stone fruit and rubbery notes as well as some dark chocolate’, and continued: ‘The palate is nuanced with minerality, ripe stone fruits, a touch of nutty bitterness. The wine finishes with notes of ripe yellow peach.’

£5.35 LWC Drinks Ltd (Merchant and Shippers)

Félix Solís, Viña San Juan, Blanco 2018, La Mancha, Spain

Silver medal winner

Team leader Tom Forrest found ‘delicate notes of white peach and citrus on the nose, with a palate reminiscent of tinned peaches and pears and a long citrus finish’.

£4.95 Adnams

Boutinot, Mucho Mas, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Central Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

Aster Restaurant’s Marco Marcuzzo noted: ‘A nose of citrus and tropical fruit with melon, pineapple and grapefruit. A hint of gooseberry on the palate lends a vibrant acidity and an uplifting finish.’

£5.65 Boutinot

Félix Solís, Casa Albali, Verdejo/Sauvignon 2018, Valdepeñas, Spain

Silver medal winner

Raphael Thierry of Street XO noted ‘banana skin and melon on the nose, with candied fruit on the palate’, while team leader Jade Koch found the nose to be ‘heady and intense with pear drops to the fore yet the palate was soft and easy with apple and pears’.

£5.93 Matthew Clark

Badet Clément, La Cour des Dames, Sauvignon Blanc, Pays d'Oc 2018, Languedoc, France

Silver medal winner

James Fryer of Woodhead 17 noted: ‘Green peppers and fresh herbs on the nose. Hints of elderflower, white pepper spice and a subtle note of white flowers and citrus wax. Finishes well.’

£5.69 Molson Coors

Wolf Blass, Blass Reserve, Chardonnay Semillon 2017, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

Andre Luis Martins of Cavalry & Guards Club noted ‘zesty pink grapefruit aromas with a refreshing green apple palate and an elegant, peppery finish’, while team leader Andres Ituarte found the wine to be ‘fat and textural with notes of honeydew and currant leaf’.

£5.00 Molson Coors, Treasury Wine Estates

Famiglia Ferratti, Pinot Grigio 2017, Codru/Stefan Voda, Moldavia

Silver medal winner

Street XO’s Raphael Thierry enjoyed the wine’s ‘clean stone fruit and lime freshness’ and noted that ‘it has good texture and a touch of sweetness that is lifted by the fresh finish’.

£5.37 Lanchester Wine Cellars

Casa del Valle, Acantus, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Castilla, Spain

Bronze medal winner

Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair found this wine to be ‘dry citrusy and fresh, with green fruit notes’.

£4.65 C&D Wines

Casa del Valle, Antina, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Castilla, Spain

Bronze medal winner

Team leader Nigel Lister enjoyed the ‘fresh, floral nose, a juicy peach and pear palate and the slight petillance to help bring freshness’. His suggestion? ‘Try with ceviche.’

£4.00 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Broadland Wineries, Villa Benizi, Pinot Grigio 2018, Puglia, Italy

Bronze medal winner

Christopher Delalonde MS of The Dorchester described this as having ‘ripe pears, apples and a touch of marshmallow with brisk acidity’.

£3.85 Broadland Wineries

Broadland Wineries, Proudly Vegan, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Central Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

For Andre Luis Martins of Cavalry & Guards Club this had ‘a perfumed nose of elderberries with a lemon zest palate and a ripe finish’.

£3.90 Broadland Wineries

Le Jardin, Chardonnay 2016, South West France, France

Bronze medal winner

Sylwester Piasecki of Zuma picked up this wine’s ‘pronounced tropical fruit aromatics of lime and pineapple, and a palate of fresh citrus and pineapple with a zesty grapefruit finish’.

£5.09 LWC Drinks Ltd (Merchant and Shippers)

Borsao, Selección Blanco 2017, Campo de Borja, Spain

Bronze medal winner

Le Gavroche’s Rémi Cousin noted the ‘heady aromas of ripe stone fruit – white peach – and the nicely bitter spice finish’.

£6.00 Boutinot

Boutinot, Percheron, Chenin Blanc Viognier 2018, Western Cape, South Africa

Bronze medal winner

Oliver Nagy of Hakkasan Hanway Place found ‘aromatic notes of apricot, peaches and cream that carried on through to the palate; medium body and acidity and a ripe fruit finish’.

£5.70 Boutinot

Cherry Tree Hill, Chenin Blanc 2018, Western Cape, South Africa

Bronze medal winner

Beatrice Bessi of 67 Pall Mall found a ‘vibrant, juicy, citrusy, herbal profile on the nose: sage, basil and cress… followed with a very refreshing, balanced long finish’.

£5.50 Eurowines

Otra Tierra, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Central Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

Sonal Clare of Purnell’s Restaurant noted a ‘spicy, capsicum nose with sun-dried tomatoes and basil. Clean and crisp the wine finishes with a savoury acidity.’

£5.53 Lanchester Wine Cellars

Adega Ponte da Barca, Este, Loureiro, Grande Escolha 2018, Vinho Verde, Portugal

Commended medal winner

£5.11 Marta Vine

Broadland Wineries, Honu, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand

Commended medal winner

Bartolomeo Breganze, Le Colline di San Giorgio, Pinot Grigio 2018, Veneto, Italy

Commended medal winner

Broadland Wineries, Pais de Poetas, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Central Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

Cielo e Terra, Farfalla, Pinot Grigio 2017, Veneto, Italy

Commended medal winner

Cielo e Terra, Farfalla, Trebbiano 2017, Veneto, Italy

Commended medal winner

Eurl Caveaux, La Colombe, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, South West France, France

Commended medal winner

Sivipa, Terras Do Sado, Branco 2018, Península De Setúbal, Portugal

Commended medal winner

Félix Solís, Castillo De Mureva, Organic Verdejo 2018, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Commended medal winner

£5.67 Matthew Clark

Concha y Toro, CyT, Chardonnay/Pedro Ximinez 2018, Central Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£5.50 CyT UK

Los Haroldos, Finca Don Mauro, Torrontes 2017, Mendoza, Argentina

Commended medal winner

£6.00 R D Wines

Murviedro, Fauno, Blanco 2017, Valencia, Spain

Commended medal winner

£5.10 Boutinot

Boutinot, Montevista, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Maule Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£5.90 Boutinot

Félix Solís, Ayrum, Verdejo 2018, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Commended medal winner

£5.25 Matthew Clark

Botter, Vivoli Pinot Grigio 2018, Sicily, Italy

Commended medal winner

£4.98 Molson Coors

Badet Clément, Le Bosq Blanc 2018, Vin de France, France

Commended medal winner

£6.00 Matthew Clark

López Morenas, El Mazo, Pardina/Chardonnay NV, Extremadura, Spain, Spain

Commended medal winner

£3.40 Kingsland

Anciens Temps, Medium Blanc 2017, Vin de France, France

Commended medal winner

Pegões, Fonte do Nico, Vinho Branco 2017, Península De Setúbal, Portugal

Commended medal winner

Caviro, Sospiro, Bianco d'Italia NV, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Commended medal winner

Araldica, Alasia, Piemonte Cortese 2018, Piedmont, Italy

Commended medal winner

£5.40 Boutinot

Due Palme, Sea Change, Chardonnay 2018, Puglia, Italy

Commended medal winner

Michel Servin, Blanc 2017, Vin De France, France

Commended medal winner

Caviro, Il Molo, Pinot Grigio 2017, Veneto, Italy

Commended medal winner

£5.62 Enotria&Coe