Winner Details

House Wine: White

This year saw something very unusual: four of our five Gold Listed house whites came from one country: South Africa. Of course, the exchange rate might be helping keep the prices down, but this was still an impressive performance by the Cape’s wineries, with two Sauvignons and two Chenins under £5.60.

In fact, even beyond South Africa, our tasters were happy with what they tried here. You’d expect a lot of Commendeds (and a lot of wines not getting awards at all) but what was left was often astonishingly good for money.

From The Tasting Teams

‘I did not go in with high hopes, but I was pleasantly surprised. There was good winemaking here.’ Jan Konetzki, team leader

‘It’s important to have recognisable regions or names for your house wine, as people will recognise that and order it.’ Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir

‘A house wine must have drinkability over anything else. It must be adaptable and customer friendly, with no quirkiness for the sake of it. It should make people feel they are getting something really good.’ Martin Lam, consultant

‘A house wine has to be a democratic wine. It’s got to be something that lots of people will enjoy, and it should have typicity.’ James Fryer, team leader

‘It represents your establishment, so when you are not pleasing your customers with the house wine, it’s a snowball effect. The first appearance has to be a “wow” experience.’ Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche

‘In this category you’re looking for value for money. But even at this price you want something with a bit of length.’ Michael Fiducia, Royal Automobile Club

‘I was impressed by the average quality here. Most of them would be really good by the glass for a wide range of venues.’ Filippo Pastorini, consultant

Award winners

Found 50 wines

House Wine: White - <£6 ex-VAT

Imbuko, Umbala, Chenin Blanc 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

Gold medal winner

'A crisp, fragrant, full and lingering wine.' Sue Jones, The Harrow at Little Bedwyn. 'Mineral undertones with subtle fruit and pungent aromas - I really like this.' Michael Driscoll, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa. 'A mineral, flinty, honeyed nose with a hit of ripeness, but slow-building acidity to balance. Good for exotic food outlets.' Charlie Young, team leader.

£5.19 LWC Drinks

Félix Solís, Casa Albali, Verdejo/Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Valdepeñas, Spain

Gold medal winner

'Candied citrus with some tropical fruit notes, leading to an elegant palate with good fruit and light, sweet spices, and a finish that's balanced and refreshing.' Lionel Periner, team leader. 'This has a pretty nose of pear and white flower aromas, leading to similar flavours on the palate, accompanied by nice balancing acidity.' Michael Fiducia, The Royal Automobile Club.

£5.54 Matthew Clark

Healy & Gray, Pinot Grigio 2018, Robertson, South Africa

Gold medal winner

'There's a nice contrast between the weighty, rich nose and the clean and pure fruit-driven palate.' Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK. 'A fun house white that really comes alive on the palate with tangy fruitiness. This would be a good entry level wine on a wine list.' Michael Driscoll, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa. 'Crisp and lemony - ideal as an aperitif with oysters.' Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche.

£5.23 LWC Drinks

Accolade, Bespoke, Chenin Blanc 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

Gold medal winner

'A good amount of peach stone fruit and nice crisp apple. A good wine by the glass in a pub or market restaurant.' Stephanie Robertson, RA Group. 'Lots of fruit on the distinctive nose, leading to great acidity that makes this really shine. It's bursting with tanginess, and crisp on the palate. The perfect house wine for me.' Michael Driscoll, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa.

£5.59 Matthew Clark

D'Aria , The Songbird, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Cape Town, South Africa

Gold medal winner House Wine of the Year

'There's lots of typicity here, with herbaceousness and jalapeño notes, as well as bright citrus fruit and zippy acids, leading to a grassy finish.' Andres Ituarte, team leader. 'Good citrus notes, with pink grapefruit and elderflower leading to mouth-watering acidity, yet really ripe and intense too. A well-made crowd pleaser at a terrific price.' Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader.

£5.60 Eurowines

Badet Clément, La Cour des Dames, Sauvignon Blanc, Pays D'Oc 2019, Languedoc, France

Silver medal winner

'Greengage, citrus and floral notes lead to a fresh yet concentrated, citrus-led palate.' Michael Fiducia, Royal Automobile Club. 'Juicy and fresh, with light mineral notes and some nectarine and red apple notes.' Andres Ituarte, team leader. 'With light aromas of citrus, grass and spring flowers, this is a friendly summer wine with gentle acidity.' Lionel Periner, team leader.

£5.69 Molson Coors

Patriarche, Viognier, Vin de France 2019, Languedoc, France

Silver medal winner

'Good varietal expression here, with an expressive nose of citrus, grapefruit, pomelo and tropical fruits, and a delicate, refreshing palate with a hint of creamy fruits on the finish.' Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir. 'Refreshing and vibrant, like biting into a green apple. A strong, fresh character that's useful for the summer, with fresh dishes like salads, carpaccios, fresh tomatoes or even oysters.' Alonso Abed, Trivet.

£5.46 Castelnau Wine Agencies

Hilltop Neszmély, The Parodist, Pinot Grigio 2018, Neszmély, Hungary

Silver medal winner

'This is a house wine to impress - aromatic, fresh and quite unique in profile.' Jan Konetzki, team leader. 'A super-attractive wine with intense aromatics, leading to spice and key lime on the palate. Lovely fruit and a long, persistent finish.' Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK. 'With bright, fresh citrus flavours, this is a mouth-watering, easy-drinking style.' Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine.

£5.70 Majestic Commercial

Accolade, Short Mile Bay, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

'A fun wine that's mineral, firm and with free-flowing fruitiness. A good by-the-glass pub wine.' Michael Driscoll, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa. 'Clean and fragrant, with limestone tropical fruit notes.' Sue Jones, The Harrow at Little Bedwyn. 'Tropical and stone fruit notes like peach and apricot, leading to a pleasant, fresh finish.' Aurore Anguenot, Aviary.

£5.99 Matthew Clark

Accolade, Tekena, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Central Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

'A good all-rounder, with grassy, herbaceous notes, and a perfumed note too, leading to a palate that's really crisp and fresh, and fruitier than the nose.' Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader. 'This has a lifted nose of gooseberry, tropical and floral notes, and a generous mouthfeel.' Michael Fiducia, Royal Automobile Club.

£5.96 Matthew Clark

Botter, Fontana D'Italia, Trebbiano 2019, Rubicone, Italy

Silver medal winner

'Light and easy-drinking, with crisp, soft fruit and a balanced finish with a hint of minerality.' Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns. 'Pear skin and apricot pith, with some nice weight due to a touch of residual sugar.' Andres Ituarte, team leader. 'An excellent house wine that's perfect for any kind of food.' Cinthia Lozano, The Winery Honduras.

£4.60 Molson Coors

Boutinot, Gran Tesoro, Viura 2018, Campo de Borja, Spain

Silver medal winner

'Lees and honey notes on the nose lead to a savoury mouthfeel, with lifted freshness and a clean finish.' Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK. 'Citrus and passion fruit aromas lead to a crisp and textual palate. Good value too.' Michael Fiducia, Royal Automobile Club. 'There's good tension and fruity balance here, with some crunchy minerals. I could see this working with food in a brasserie.' Laurent Richet MS, team leader.

£5.15 Boutinot

Vistamar, Brisa, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Central Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

'A crowd-pleasing, slightly fuller style, with red apple and lime notes and hints of more tropical fruit, with a waxy note and maybe a touch of oak.' Andres Ituarte, team leader. 'This opens with peach and green apple notes, and a hint of lemon and lime peel, with a touch of elderflower too.' Elisa Soggia, Trivet.

£6.00 Kingsland

Pagos del Rey, Marques de Altillo, Rioja Blanco 2019, Rioja, Spain

Bronze medal winner

'This is crisp and fruity with some interesting flavours. A good wine that doesn't really need food, and could easily be drunk at lunch on a sunny day.' Michael Driscoll, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa. 'Generous, with fresh almond and a hint of almond blossom, leading to a soft and delicate palate with a fluffy texture. An enjoyable wine.' Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir.

£6.00 Adnams

Félix Solís, Finca Nova, Airen 2019, Central Spain, Spain

Bronze medal winner

'Pithy, with some green apple and a lightly salted note. This would work as a casual restaurant's house white, pairing with fish dishes.' Oliver Zelenczuk, London Shell Co. 'A very light style, with pretty florals.' Angela Reddin, team leader. 'Wet stones and custard apples on both the nose and palate, with good acidity and length.' Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

£4.68 Majestic Commercial

Félix Solís, Viña San Juan, Blanco 2019, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Bronze medal winner

'Great open aromas of fresh lemon juice, leading to a dry palate with gentle complexity and nice yellow fruit and floral characters. Great value for money too.' Lionel Periner, team leader. 'Soft, bruised white fruits and a good chunk of minerality lead to a nice weight that makes this good for food. A perfect house wine for a tapas restaurant.' Andres Ituarte, team leader.

£5.00 Adnams

Fray Leon, Matinal, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Central Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

'A versatile house white that's green, fresh, aromatic and grassy, with decent body and a refreshing hit of acidity, leading to a clean finish.' Charlie Young, team leader. 'With loads of stone fruit and citrus notes, this is brilliant for a pub garden in the height of British summer.' Stephanie Robertson, RA Group.

£4.00 Kingsland

Botter, Sea Change, Sauvignon 2019, Veneto, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'This has distinct green fruit, with a gooseberry note to the nose among some brilliant, inviting aromas. An excellent by-the-glass pub wine.' Michael Driscoll, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa. 'Zesty tangerine notes combined with some light elderflower aromas, leading to a rich herbal palate with lime peel and white spices.' Andre Luís Martins, team leader.

£5.00 Inverarity Morton

WX Brands, Marques de Calado, Macabeo 2019, Castilla, Spain

Bronze medal winner

'Easy-drinking, with grassy capsicum notes and a pithy, savoury palate.' Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader. 'This has a fruity nose of mainly apple aromas, joined by a floral note of wild flowers.' Filippo Pastorini, consultant. 'Hints of papaya and mango, with a slight oxidative note.' Andres Ituarte, team leader.

£5.05 Majestic Commercial

Accolade, Short Mile Bay, Chardonnay 2019, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Bronze medal winner

'A good nose that's quite complex yet light.' Angela Reddin, team leader. 'There's bright and crisp green fruit here, as well as a slight creaminess.' Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine. 'Soft, round and floral, with lots of candied melon notes - this would pair well with slightly spicier dishes.' Andres Ituarte, team leader.

£5.99 Matthew Clark

Accolade, Cullinan View, Chenin Blanc 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

Bronze medal winner

'An attractive, ripe and fruit-driven nose, leading to good weight and a creamy mouthfeel. This is supported by good acidity, leading to a slightly savoury finish.' Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK. 'It opens with a nose of white peach, fresh grass and figs, leading to a vibrant palate with hints of water chestnut and a pleasant almond finish.' Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

£5.60 Matthew Clark

Paolini, Gurgo, Grillo 2016, Sicily, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'A Southern white with character, freshness and grip that shouts out for food but is also pleasant on its own.' Jan Konetzki, team leader. 'This really overdelivers on the price, with lots of complexity and good weight, and a bright, fresh palate with vibrant acidity and lots of minerality too. A great house wine for a mid-level brasserie.' Andres Ituarte, team leader.

£5.16 Chalié Richards

Boutinot, Mucho Mas, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Central Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

'Easy-drinking, with an expressive vegetal nose and some cut grass notes, leading to a fresh palate with good balance.' Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir. 'Great fruit, with a pungent nose and acidity shining through the waxy palate.' Michael Driscoll, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa. 'There's a bit of weight to this, with a honeyed, floral finish. Good value.' Andres Ituarte, team leader.

£5.65 Boutinot

Adria Vini, Conviviale, Pinot Grigio 2019, Delle Venezie, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'An elegant wine that's light and easy-drinking, with soft, delicate fruit, and very mineral too.' Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns. 'Versatile and easy-drinking.' Martin Lam, team leader. 'Perfect with any type of food, making it an amazing house white option.' Cinthia Lozano, The Winery Honduras.

£5.65 Boutinot

Imbuko, Umbala, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£5.19 LWC Drinks

Cielo e Terra, I Castelli, Pinot Grigio Blush 2018, Veneto, Italy

Commended medal winner

£5.55 LWC Drinks

Cielo e Terra, I Castelli, Chardonnay 2018, Veneto, Italy

Commended medal winner

£5.65 LWC Drinks

Mancura, Etnia, Sauvignon 2019, Central Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

Félix Solís, Casa Vista, Chardonnay 2019, Central Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£5.71 Matthew Clark

Félix Solís, La Prensa, Chardonnay 2019, Central Spain, Spain

Commended medal winner

£5.48 Matthew Clark

Félix Solís, Castillo de Mureva, Organic Verdejo 2019, Central Spain, Spain

Commended medal winner

£5.41 Matthew Clark

Félix Solís, Panuelo, Vino Blanco -1, Central Spain, Spain

Commended medal winner

£4.91 Matthew Clark

Félix Solís, Oratoire St Pierre, Vin Blanc, Demi Sec -1, Central Spain, Spain

Commended medal winner

£5.15 Matthew Clark

Healy & Gray, Chenin Blanc 2017, Western Cape, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£5.23 LWC Drinks

Healy & Gray, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Casablanca, Chile

Commended medal winner

£5.23 LWC Drinks

Caldirola, La Musa, Grillo 2018, Sicily, Italy

Commended medal winner

Dunavar , Pinot Blanc 2018, Pannon, Hungary

Commended medal winner

Little Cricket , Grüner Veltliner 2018, Pannon, Hungary

Commended medal winner

Wolf Blass, Blass, Chardonnay 2018, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£5.45 Molson Coors

Concha y Toro, Mountain Range, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Central Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£5.90 CyT UK

Concha y Toro, Mountain Range, Pinot Grigio 2018, Central Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£5.90 CyT UK

Origin Wine, Bantry Bay, Chenin Blanc 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

Commended medal winner

Dominio de la Fuente, Verdejo 2019, Castilla, Spain

Commended medal winner

WX Brands, El Molturo, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Multi-Regional, Spain

Commended medal winner

Casa del Valle, Acantus Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Castilla, Spain

Commended medal winner

£5.00 C&D Wines

Freixenet Copestick, Five Foot Track, Chardonnay 2019, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Accolade, Between Thorns, Chardonnay 2019, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£5.96 Matthew Clark

Accolade, Between Thorns, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£5.96 Matthew Clark

Citra , Crescendo, Pinot Grigio 2018, Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy

Commended medal winner

Bodegas Murviedro, El Ninot de Paper, Blanco 2018, Valencia, Spain

Commended medal winner

£5.50 Boutinot