Home Winners > Winners 2020 > Other White Varietals & Blends

Winner Details

Other White Varietals & Blends

This is a growing part of the competition for both good reasons and bad. On one hand, it’s sad that Viognier, Gewürztraminer and Torrontés no longer justify the entry numbers to merit their own sections in this results book, and have been folded back into Other Whites as a result. Viognier, in particular, probably merits more backing from the people who enter the wines since our tasters generally found plenty to like here.

On the plus side, there are both fewer bad wines and more good wines within the actual Other Whites category itself. Since it’s basically where winemakers go to experiment, and is mostly made up of unusual varieties and oddball blends, that’s no mean achievement. As always, there was a fairly high level of rejection, but what was left was generally better than we were getting five years ago.

It was great to see our first flight of Koshu too. Few of our tasters were experts in this wine, but there was definitely far more stylistic variation than we were expecting.

All in all, then, this section is not a bad place to go exploring. Our teams have done the hard work of removing the bad stuff, so you can call in samples with confidence. There are interesting, well-priced tasting menu or by-the-glass offerings here.

From The Tasting Teams

‘These are not shy wines. Big on flavour, big on acidity. Too shouty for my taste.’ Nigel Lister, St. Swithins Wine Shippers

‘Quite interesting wines, varied and quite diverse. Overall very good.’ Victor Amaro, Quarter Bar at London Bridge Hotel

‘A real mixed bag of wines from all over. Good value and easy-drinking – the value is the key here.’ Andres Ituarte, team leader

‘Torrontés is an easy-drinking, by-the-glass, crowd-pleasing wine. With food it loses its varietal characteristics.’ Claire Love, Loves Consultancy

‘Whether oaked or unoaked, the Viogniers were all interesting. On this evidence I wouldn’t dismiss the New World for Viognier.’ Laurent Richet MS, team leader

‘People are beginning to drink Koshu now in restaurants, but we need proper Koshu styles in the market. There’s more work to be done from Japanese producers, to bring structure, depth and length.’ Diana Rollan, D&D London

‘The Other Whites was a really interesting flight with lots of different styles. The richness and fruit-forward flavours of the wines really stood out. Ones with better structure showed the best.’ Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns

‘I really enjoyed the Torrontés – they were really good value for money. People appreciate that it’s a very aromatic wine, with good pricing.’ Juan Manuel Marcos Perez, The Gilbert Scott Restaurant

‘There’s a place for Viognier on a wine list, but you need to know which one to pick.’ Lucie Hammerschmiedova, Portland Restaurant

‘Koshu is a grape variety that everyone talks about as up and coming, but then you never see it anywhere!’ Andres Ituarte, team leader

Award winners

Found 37 wines

New World: Other White Varietals & Blends

Casarena, Winemaker's Selection, Torrontés 2018, Salta, Argentina

Gold medal winner Food Match

'A very expressive wine that's floral and herbaceous, with a sweet fruit core, and a mintiness too.'
Carolina W Seibel, Comptoir Cafe and Wine.

'Floral and perfumed, with some stony mineral notes, citrus and pears and a fresh finish with some ginger spice.'
Tom Forrest, team leader.

'Very aromatic, with elderflower, jasmine and honeysuckle, and lime, lemon, white peach and grape too.'
Romain de Courcy, The Ritz Paris.

£7.23 Frederic Robinson

Larry Cherubino, Apostrophe, Stone's Throw White 2019, Great Southern, Western Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

'A spicy and beautifully caramelised nose of raisins, apricots and wild elderflower leads into a balanced and refreshing palate with unripened stone fruit and gooseberries.'
Hamish Greening, Twenty Seven by Jamie Rogers.

'With smokiness and a touch of diesel, along with notes of lime and grapefruit, this is lean and vibrant, with good minerality. A super-refreshing style that's perfect for fish dishes.'
Diana Rollan, D&D London.

£11.80 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Millton, Riverpoint, Viognier 2016, Gisborne, New Zealand

Gold medal winner

'Very New World, with lots of tropical fruit upfront, but also marked by its oak ageing.'
Olivier Gasselin, OenoTrade.

'Lovely, with tropical and floral notes, and some honey, well balanced with acidity.'
Lucie Hammerschmiedova, Portland Restaurant.

'A gentle yet complex aroma, with layers of fruit and stone, and a beautifully oily, textured palate. A balanced, rich and unctuous wine.'
Antóin UáRuairc, UK Midland Sommelier.

£15.09 Bibendum

Strange Kompanjie Unlimited, The Tea Leaf 2019, Piekenierskloof, South Africa

Gold medal winner

'Ripe, grassy and a little oily, this has some great fruit too. A warm and really happy wine that would be great by the glass.'
Jade Koch, team leader.

'Opening with lovely fresh peach and apricot, with blossom notes too, leading to a full and balanced palate with waxy notes and a lovely, clean finish, this would be great with a variety of food.'
Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns.

£9.55 Boutinot

Château Mercian, Koshu, Gris de Gris 2017, Yamanashi , Japan

Gold medal winner

'Super-delicious, with peach and apricot notes and lots of candied ginger and spice, and a touch of saline.'
Andres Ituarte, team leader.

'Orange peel and hints of clementine on the nose, as well as some sour cream and dried flowers. The palate is fresh and elegant, with a delicate astringency. Great for wine bars - and Japanese restaurants, of course.'
Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

£12.60 Boutinot

Chaffey Bros Wine Co, Kontrapunkt, Kerner 2018, Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

'A super-crisp and fresh expression, with an ample palate despite its light, refreshing style, with fresh apples, lemon sherbert and floral notes.'
Sam Weatherill, Etch. by Steven Edwards.

'Mineral, flinty and grassy, with notes of grapefruit and gooseberries. Fruity and easy to drink.'
Diana Rollan, D&D London.

'Lighter fluid and waxed lemon aromas, with a light body buoyed by a tacit sweetness.'
Hamish Greening, Twenty Seven by Jamie Rogers.

£13.95 Enotria&Coe

Meinert Wines, The Italian Job, White Merlot 2018, Stellenbosch/Swartland, South Africa

Silver medal winner

'An interesting wine that's round, ripe, and balanced, and showing some weight, with tropical fruit, quince, lemon and mango, joined by some floral aromas and leading to a mineral finish.'
Diana Rollan, D&D London.

'Notes of citrus and yellow flowers, joined by some tropical fruit and spices.'
Maria Cristina Francescon, Enoteca Sorso di Vino.

£10.00 Enotria&Coe

Amalaya, Blanco 2019, Salta, Argentina

Silver medal winner

'This has a vibrant citrus and elderflower nose, leading to a balanced palate with lime zest and a good finish.'
Claire Love, Loves Consultancy.

'An elegant nose of flowers and stone fruits, with white peach notes too, leading to a dry palate with a nice medium finish.'
Juan Manuel Marcos Perez, The Gilbert Scott Restaurant.

£7.90 Liberty Wines

Siegel, Viognier, Gran Reserva 2019, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

'This tastes of summer, with ripe and luscious peaches and apricots, loads of tropical fruit like melon, mango and pineapple, together with floral honeysuckle and chamomile notes, some honey and a hint of ginger.'
Lucie Hammerschmiedova, Portland Restaurant.

'Nice minerality and freshness here, with lovely saltiness.'
Arturo Scamardella, The Ritz London.

£10.90 VIÑA SIEGEL S.A.

Tahbilk, Marsanne 2018, Victoria, Australia

Silver medal winner

'Opening with some lean and herbal citrus and lemon verbena notes on the nose, this is very textural on palate, with crab apple, lemon curd and some dried herbs, good concentration and a light finish.'
Claire Love, Loves Consultancy.

'Fresh and vibrant, mineral and stony, with a smoky finish.'
Diana Rollan, D&D London.

£10.67 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Olifantsberg, Grenache Blanc 2017, Breedekloof, Western Cape, South Africa

Silver medal winner

'This opens with some subtle notes of yellow fruit, leading to a touch of sweetness on the palate, and a fresh finish with some green notes.'
Lionel Periner, team leader.

'A creamy, spicy and oaky wine with a rich lactic mouthfeel that would work nicely with food.'
Joshua Castle, Noble Rot.

£13.26 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Altos de Jose Ignacio, Reserve Albariño 2019, Maldonado, Uruguay

Silver medal winner

'Soft and luscious peach and apricot are joined by some floral blossom notes, with well-balanced acidity on the palate, and a lingering mineral finish.'
Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns.

'There's elegant, exotic fruit here joined by some notes, and a palate that's elegant, with a touch of candied fruit.'
Lionel Periner, team leader.

£11.49 Bibendum

Colomé, Torrontés 2019, Molinos, Argentina

Bronze medal winner

'This opens with elegant aromas of chamomile and honey, leading to a pleasant finish with some saltiness.'
Nuno Pereira, Theo Randall at the InterContinental Hotel.

'Aromas of stone fruit, green apple and nectarine, with green herbal notes and oranges on the palate joined by rose petal and tropical notes.'
Juan Manuel Marcos Perez, The Gilbert Scott Restaurant.

£8.95 Liberty Wines

Yealands Estate, Single Vineyard, Grüner Veltliner 2018, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

Bronze medal winner

'Beginning with a light nose showing some citrus notes and green apple, as well as notes of garden peas, this leads to a dry palate with some hints of white peaches and some spice, with good freshness overall.'
Lionel Periner, team leader.

'Fresh and ripe, with notes of greengage plum and lime.'
Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine.

£12.26 Enotria&Coe

Yealands, The Crossings, Grüner Veltliner 2017, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

Bronze medal winner

'Opening with pink grapefruit, grapes and elderberry on the nose, with a hint of smoke, the palate here is juicy, with a pleasant, unripe fruit finish - one for gastropubs.'
Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

'Gooseberry, white peach and nettles on both the nose and palate, with some crisp, creamy cashew and fennel on the finish.'
Claire Love, Loves Consultancy.

£12.26 Mentzendorff & Co

Tahbilk, Museum Release, Marsanne 2012, Victoria, Australia

Bronze medal winner

'A ripe, honeyed, nutty and toasty style, with notes of dried fruit and dried herbs. Round, rich and full-bodied, with good acidity and a buttery finish.'
Diana Rollan, D&D London.

'An exotic and decadent nose that shows some ripe mango, banana and apricot alongside some buttery toast notes.'
Sam Weatherill, Etch. by Steven Edwards.

£12.84 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Grace Wine, Kayagatake, Koshu 2018, Yamanashi, Japan

Bronze medal winner

'Super-fresh and savoury, and a little scented, with minerality and some good length - this has notes of nice crunchy ripe apple, with more freshness and minerality on the finish.'
Charlie Young, team leader.

'A more delicate style, with grapefruit citrus and a floral touch, this is fresh and vibrant with a good mineral finish. Perfect for sushi.'
Diana Rollan, D&D London.

£15.49 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Altos de Jose Ignacio, Reserve Albariño 2018, Maldonado, Uruguay

Bronze medal winner

'A ripe and expressive wine with lovely defined stone fruit and a clean mineral finish.'
Joshua Castle, Noble Rot.

'A fresh and elegant wine with a touch of rose petal.'
Lionel Periner, team leader.

'Refreshing, with hints of tropical fruit, this is delicately spicy with good acidity.'
Mikolaj Harmider, Cava Spiliadis Collection and Simpsons Restaurant.

£12.14 Bibendum

Garzón, Reserva, Albariño 2019, Maldonado, Uruguay

Bronze medal winner

'There's good structure here, with nice aromatics and stony minerality, and notes of ripe fruit like apples and citrus.'
Mikolaj Harmider, Cava Spiliadis Collection and Simpsons Restaurant.

'Some ripe aromas here, with elderflower and citrus notes followed by green apples, and some good concentration.'
Nuno Pereira, Theo Randall at the InterContinental Hotel.

£12.88 Liberty Wines

Emiliana, Novas, Gran Reserva, Viognier, Organic 2018, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

'An exciting wine that speaks of its provenance. It's a little herbal, and just ripe, with high acidity giving it a more citrus approach with lime juice, unripe apricots and hints of mango and peach.'
Laurent Richet MS, team leader.

'Crisp and mineral, with white flowers and honeysuckle, ripe stone fruit like peach and apricot, and some mango too.'
Lucie Hammerschmiedova, Portland Restaurant.

£7.70 Boutinot

Waterkloof, Circle of Life, White 2016, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Bronze medal winner

'A distinctive and appealing wine with notes of peach and citrus, as well as some blossom. The palate that follows is ripe and deep, with plenty of acidity and white pepper.'
Charlie Young, team leader.

'Ripe stone fruit with a touch of tropical, with additional notes of white pepper and minerality.'
Savvas Symeonidis, Goodman Restaurant Mayfair.

£9.85 Boutinot

Strange Kompanjie Unlimited, Wonder Horse, Old Vine Palomino 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

Bronze medal winner

'Peaches and apricots aplenty on the nose, leading to pear drops on the pretty palate that's juicy, lean and fun, with bags of fruit character. Mouth-watering.'
Jade Koch, team leader.

'Very elegant, with vibrant acidity and good fruit complexity of gooseberry, passion fruit, apples, lemons and pineapple.'
Mikolaj Harmider, Cava Spiliadis Collection and Simpsons Restaurant.

£10.50 Boutinot

Kleinood, Tamboerskloof, Viognier 2018, Western Cape, South Africa

Bronze medal winner

'Spiced peach at first, joined by some subtle notes of candied fruit, with a salty character and a fine mineral finish, all well balanced by some discreet use of oak.'
Olivier Gasselin, OenoTrade.

'Well-balanced acidity, fruit and minerality here, accompanied by some crisp, ripe and sweet fruit.'
Lucie Hammerschmiedova, Portland Restaurant.

£13.81 Enotria&Coe

Trimboli, Salvatore, Trebbiano 2019, Riverina, New South Wales, Australia

Commended medal winner

Shirayuri Winery, L’Orient, Katsunuma Koshu 2018, Yamanashi, Japan

Commended medal winner

Yealands Estate, Single Vineyard, PGR 2019, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

Commended medal winner

£11.66 Enotria&Coe

Bouza, Albariño 2018, Montevideo, Uruguay

Commended medal winner

£15.70 Jeroboams

Pine Ridge, Chenin Blanc/Viognier 2018, California, USA

Commended medal winner

£14.12 Liberty Wines

Flagstone, Word of Mouth, Viognier 2018, Western Cape, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£10.51 Matthew Clark

Flagstone, Noon Gun, Chenin Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc/Viognier 2017, Western Cape, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£8.02 Matthew Clark

Journey's End, Reign of Terroir, White Blend 2019, Swartland, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£8.25 Matthew Clark

Huia, Grüner Veltliner 2019, Marlborough, New Zealand

Commended medal winner

£13.13 Bibendum

Pasarisa, Torrontés 2018, Salta, Argentina

Commended medal winner

£9.94 Bibendum

Seival Estate, Alisios, Pinot Grigio/Riesling 2018, Campanha , Brazil

Commended medal winner

£8.93 Bibendum

d'Arenberg, The Hermit Crab, Viognier/Marsanne 2018, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£10.64 Enotria&Coe

Strange Kompanjie Unlimited, The Underworld, Grenache Blanc 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

Commended medal winner

£6.95 Boutinot

Château Mercian, Yamanashi Koshu Sur Lie 2017, Yamanashi, Japan

Commended medal winner

£10.60 Boutinot