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Winner Details

 Other European Sparkling Wine

2019  GOLD: 1             SILVER: 6         BRONZE: 6       COMMENDED: 10
2018  GOLD: 2             SILVER: 13       BRONZE: 4       COMMENDED: 9

Sweeping up all Euro-fizzes barring cava, champagne and English, this can be a varied and stimulating part of the competition. And while it didn’t deliver much in the way of Golds (just the exceptionally well-priced Comte de Chamberi Brut) this was as much to do with our judges’ hard-nosed awareness of the limited number of places for wines such as this on the Sommelier Wine Awards’ mid-sized Gold List.

Certainly there was no shortage of interest from our tasters – particularly in the price gap between prosecco and English sparklers, where there were some really interesting and unusual wines to be had.

FROM THE TASTING TEAMS

‘There’s definitely a place for these on wine lists, though as a sommelier we would have to introduce them to guests – they wouldn’t just try them.’ Melania Battiston, 28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen

‘The less-expensive wines here were more what you would want. There was very good value for money.’ Sonal Clare, Purnell’s Restaurant

‘I felt really privileged to taste the sparkling reds. It’s a category that’s worth introducing to customers, and gave me a lot to think about. I think there’s a lot of opportunity here that we’ve missed. They’re much more food friendly than I would have thought before.’ Jim Bass, Scarlet Hotel

‘These are maybe too pricey, but it’s always good to have a Franciacorta on a list. Champagne is champagne, but it’s good to have traditional method from outside France.’ Chiara Sieni, Bottles Group

‘These are exactly what you’d want from this category: aperitif-style wines. And they take you out of your comfort zone.’ Sean Arthur, Cliveden House

‘Some of these were interesting, but when the price point gets to about £20, you can get champagne for the same amount.’ Antonio Federico Moccia, 67 Pall Mall

Award winners

Found 23 wines

Sparkling: Other European Sparkling Wine

Félix Solís, Comte de Chamberi, Brut NV, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Gold medal winner

As judges elevated this Spanish sparkler to Gold, Melania Bellesini of The Fat Duck spoke highly of its ‘golden apple, fresh Williams pear and lovely white flowers', as well as its 'good length, with persistent flavour and a rounded mouthfeel'. Meanwhile, Heesoo Kang of Flat Three Restaurant enjoyed the ‘intensity of fresh fruit aromas', while describing it as 'well concentrated and balanced, finishing with a lovely grapefruit and citrus peel tang'.

£6.98 Matthew Clark

Arthur Metz, Perle Noire, Crémant d'Alsace NV, Alsace, France

Silver medal winner

Chiara Sieni of Bottles Group enjoyed this wine’s ‘elegant, delicate brioche and roasted nut hints with a long finish’. Team leader Nigel Lister noted: ‘Inviting apple aromatics with a touch of saffron. The vibrant, bright fruit carries through the palate to a long finish.’

£12.67 Les Grands Chais de France

Ca' del Bosco, Franciacorta, Cuvée Prestige NV, Lombardy, Italy

Silver medal winner

A wine with ‘stewed apple and vibrant acidity’, according to Chiara Sieni of Bottles Group, while Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross Kenilworth, Simpsons & Edgbaston identified ‘citrus and baked notes, leading to good, persistent perlage on a dry palate’. ‘Elegant, clean and juicy,’ summarised team leader Jade Koch.

£26.50 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Villa Cialdini, Pignoletto, Sparkling Brut 2018, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Silver medal winner

Team leader Jade Koch admired the ‘pretty fruit' adding, 'the wine has notes of fresh peach and is quite textural, while the brisk acidity balances the creamy mouthfeel and rich finish.'

£10.49 Liberty Wines

Bottega, White Gold, Spumante Venezia, Brut 2018, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

Rémi Cousin of Le Gavroche admired ‘the lovely lifted, fresh fruit character of fresh pear and apple with a white blossom, jasmine note. This dry and elegant wine finishes with a pleasant touch of bitterness.’

£17.75 Matthew Clark

Canei, Frizzante Originale Bianco Fresco (25cl) NV, Piedmont, Italy

Silver medal winner

Chiara Sieni of Bottles Group identified ‘apples, liquorice and beeswax’, while Joseph Lunn of Suave Wine thought this was ‘perfumed and delicate, showing white blossom on the nose, leading to some bitter sherbet on the palate, overall making this wine very good quality for the money’.

£3.42 Myliko Wines

Adria Vini, Palladiano, Durello, Spumante Brut NV, Veneto, Italy

Silver medal winner

Team leader Jade Koch enjoyed the ‘bright, vibrant refreshing acidity and fresh, clear pear drop fruit’, describing this wine as ‘moreish’.

£6.85 Boutinot

Villa Cialdini, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro 2018, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Bronze medal winner

Team leader Angela Reddin described ‘sweet, fresh, strawberry baked custard pie; the refreshing acidity is sustained throughout. Manages to be both fun and serious.’

£10.56 Liberty Wines

Félix Solís, Pigalle, Vin Mousseaux, Brut NV, Central Spain, Spain

Bronze medal winner

Immacolata Cannavo of Hakkasan Mayfair noted: ‘Dry, light, refreshing stone fruit – peach and apricot – with a hint of green apple. Very light bubbles with just a touch of sulphur, but great value for money.’

£6.22 Matthew Clark

Feudi di San Gregorio, Dubl, Falanghina Spumante NV, Campania, Italy

Bronze medal winner

Alonso Abed of Hide Above found ‘an expressive nose of fine pastry and elegant citrus fruits’, while team leader Jade Koch noted: ‘A good use of lees character: bright and rich fruit with a long finish; thoroughly grown-up and elegant.’

£14.18 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Winterling, Riesling Brut, Sekt 2017, Pfalz, Germany

Bronze medal winner

Filip Viorel of Benares Restaurant & Bar fancied ‘drinking this on a hot summer’s day: fresh green apple and citrus peel, it has a decent finish with nice mineral notes’.

£12.40 The Wine Rascals

Veuve Ambal, Grande Cuvée, Crémant de Bourgogne, NV, Burgundy, France

Bronze medal winner

Olivier Gasselin of Hakkasan found this ‘subtle, honeyed and floral, with fine, fresh and crisp citrus fruit and a delicate finish’.

£11.96 Enotria&Coe

Ceci, Terre Verdiane, Lambrusco Emilia, Amabile NV, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Bronze medal winner

Anita Vighova of Manor House Hotel found a ‘Gamay-like nose, floral and with dried herbs. A surprisingly sweet but light palate of candied roses, violets and blackberries: good length and a fresh palate – a proper ladies night bottle of wine.’

£9.85 Eurowines

Rotari, Cuvee 28+, Brut NV, Trentino, Italy

Commended medal winner

Mezzacorona, Mezza Di Mezzacorona NV, Trentino, Italy

Commended medal winner

Tomaso Gianolio, Moscato d'Asti 2017, Piedmont, Italy

Commended medal winner

£12.20 Top Selection

Contero, Brachetto d'Acqui 2018, Piedmont, Italy

Commended medal winner

£11.85 Liberty Wines

Félix Solís, La Madeleine, Brut NV, Multi-region, Spain

Commended medal winner

£7.26 Bibendum

Feravino, Grasecco, Brut 2017, Slavonia, Croatia

Commended medal winner

Winterling, Pinot Rosé Brut, Cremant 2016, Pfalz, Germany

Commended medal winner

Ceci, Otello 1813, NerodiLambrusco, Lambrusco Emilia NV, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Commended medal winner

£11.20 Eurowines

Ferrari, Maximum Brut NV, Veneto, Italy

Commended medal winner

£20.82 Enotria&Coe

Ceci, Terre Verdiane 1813, Lambrusco Emilia NV, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Commended medal winner

£10.20 Eurowines