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Winner Details

Sicily & Sardinia - White

There were far fewer white entries than reds from Sicily and Sardinia - yet the fact that the biancos picked up more places on the Gold List than the rossos should tell you most of what you need to know about the quality.

This was a strong range of wines, from cheap to expensive: fresh, interesting wines around £7-10, more complex offerings from £10-14 and a few genuinely good wines a bit higher up the price scale
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There were few complaints from our tasters – maybe the odd wine a bit over-oaked, masking the grape variety; pricing not quite as affordable as everyone would have liked. But these were really only minor quibbles in what was a great place for somms to go looking for interesting, versatile wines.

Very well done to Curatolo Arini, too. Its Gagliardetta was the first ever Zibibbo to get a Critics’ Choice in SWA.

From The Tasting Teams

‘It was nice to see wines with great balance and approachability. They generally had the right amount of freshness and were stylistically different.’ Charlie Young, team leader

‘Sicily is trendy at the moment and prices reflect that. If you want a decent wine, you probably won’t find one for less than £11.’ Mattia Mazzi, The River Cafe

‘Very elegant, refreshing, herbal wines.’ Andre Luis Martins, team leader

‘Sicily is a very exciting region that should be on a lot more lists. It offers excellent quality, features solid winemaking and has reasonable value for money.’ Angela Reddin, team leader

‘Sometimes the winemaker work with too much oak, masking the individual varieties rather than letting them speak for themselves. There’s a fine line between a little bit and overkill.’ Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK

‘I taste and sell quite a lot of Sicilian and Sardinian wines. There’s lots of value, and the premium wines shouldn’t be overlooked.’ Oliver Zelenczuk, London Shell Co

‘I think, overall, I found the entry-level wines the most interesting here, with clean fruit and good balance and weight.’ Gaetano Giangaspero, C&C

Award winners

Found 21 wines

Italy: South – White Sicily & Sardinia

Tornatore, Pietrarizzo, Etna Bianco 2017, Sicily, Italy

Gold medal winner

'Round yet gorgeously balanced by some fine, volcanic acidity that lifts the palate, which has great concentration and some oak adding depth and complexity.'
Mattia Mazzi, Cornerstone.

'Complexity on the nose between ripe and cooked fruit, leading to a palate that's gentle and generous, balanced and creamy. A wine that can be enjoyed on its own.'
Gaetano Giangaspero, C&C.

£17.34 Bibendum

Settesoli, Mandrarossa, Viognier 2019, Sicily, Italy

Gold medal winner

'A fab nose, literally bursting from the glass, this is bright and luscious, and very drinkable, but with an underlying complexity. This has a wonderful mouthfeel and great finish. Wow.'
Angela Reddin, team leader.

'Chamomile, green tea, peach and white flowers on the nose, and a fresh palate. A fantastic aperitif that would match with spaghetti with clams too.'
Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

£7.97 Liberty Wines

Curatolo Arini 1875, Gagliardetta, Zibibbo 2018, Sicily, Italy

Gold medal winner Critics Choice

'A high-quality wine with some very interesting evolution. Very tropical on the nose, with floral rose petal notes too, balanced by some vegetal and lemongrass notes on the finish.'
Monica Bacchiocchi, Wiltons.

'Very aromatic, with intense lime leaf and spice, and candied lime, but all held back by some lovely cardamon-spiced acidity. Intriguing, complex and long.'
Nigel Lister, St. Swithins Wine Shippers.

£13.20 Liberty Wines

Planeta, Alastro Bianco 2018, Sicily, Italy

Gold medal winner

'An aromatic wine with fresh, juicy citrus, stone fruit and floral notes. There are some big flavours here, with a long, clean and mineral finish.'
Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns.

'Ripe peaches on a sunny beach, and maybe a touch of oak on the palate. There's good texture here, with length and acidity, and a hint of spice to finish.'
Nigel Lister, St. Swithins Wine Shippers.

£11.35 Enotria&Coe

Alta Mora, Etna Bianco 2018, Sicily, Italy

Gold medal winner

'Apricot and golden fruit leads to a textural palate with some green herb and bitter almond, and some saltiness that really helps to balance, along with a subtle smoky note. A nice replacement for entry-level Chardonnay on a by-the-glass selection.'
James Fryer, team leader.

'A little savoury, like sea air. This would do well with food such as prawns grilled with garlic, a touch of chilli and parsley.'
Stephanie Robertson, RA Group.

£12.90 Eurowines

Dolianova, Prendas, Vermentino 2018, Sardinia, Italy

Silver medal winner

'This is a strong example of a ripe and fruit-rich style, with good fruit and spice aromas and quite a ripe palate, with green plum and soft, fleshy stone fruit and custard apple.'
Charlie Young, team leader.

'Rich, ripe and luscious, with good refreshing acidity and great concentration.'
Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns.

£9.35 LWC Drinks

Feudo Arancio, Grillo 2019, Sicily, Italy

Silver medal winner

'With ripe pear and almond aromas, this is rounded and full on the palate, but fresh and punchy at the same time, with a clean and almond finish. A great all-rounder for restaurants and gastro pubs alike.'
Charlie Young, team leader.

'Pretty and refreshing, with good fruit concentration and refreshing acidity.'
Mattia Mazzi, Cornerstone.

£6.80 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Accolade, Da Luca, Pinot Grigio, Terre Siciliane 2018, Sicily, Italy

Silver medal winner

'Tropical notes, as well as peach and apricot, with a fresh, creamy texture. This would be good by the glass in a gastro pub.'
Monica Bacchiocchi, Wiltons.

'Perfumed, with apricot and peach notes and a gentle, delineated texture with a gorgeous ripe peach palate.'
Nigel Lister, St. Swithins Wine Shippers.

£7.56 Matthew Clark

Feudo Disisa, Terra delle Fate, Fiano 2018, Sicily, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'Fresh figs, prickly pear, thyme, pear and hyacinth on the nose, with a palate that's fresh, clean, and well-balanced and a finish that's fruity and long. This would be a good match with chicken in lemon sauce.'
Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

£14.20 Jeroboams

Siddùra, Bèru, Vermentino di Gallura Superiore 2016, Sardinia, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'Rich and delicious, with a lovely mineral backbone, and some vanilla and white pepper too. The palate's complex, rich and balanced, with a high price point to match.'
Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns.

'A pronounced toasted and honeyed wine with hints of vanilla.'
Aurore Anguenot, Aviary.

£27.60 Mondial Wine

Settesoli, Mandrarossa, Fiano 2019, Sicily, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'Really pretty and fresh, with mandarin and prickly pear notes, and clementine pith too. A salty finish and pretty fine acidity.'
James Fryer, team leader.

'This has some vibrant lemon-and-lime notes, with some crisp, fresh acidity.'
Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine.

£7.97 Liberty Wines

Molino a Vento, Fiano, Terre Siciliane 2018, Sicily, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'Delicious fresh white peach aromas with some clean minerality, this is fresh and easy-drinking, with a lovely soft texture. Good value.'
Daniel Eriksen, Anglian Country Inns.

'This has white peach and apricots, with a creamy texture, and some lime peel and gooseberry on the finish.'
Monica Bacchiocchi, Wiltons.

£8.16 Enotria&Coe

CVA Canicattí, Alico Bianco 2019, Sicily, Italy

Commended medal winner

£8.78 CVA Canicatti

Donnafugata, Sur Sur, Grillo 2019, Sicily, Italy

Commended medal winner

£11.70 Liberty Wines

Feudo Disisa, Grillo 2019, Sicily, Italy

Commended medal winner

£11.50 Jeroboams

Feudo Disisa, Lu Bancu, Catarratto 2018, Sicily, Italy

Commended medal winner

£14.20 Jeroboams

Al-Cantara, Luci Luci, Etna Bianco 2018, Sicily, Italy

Commended medal winner

Cantina del Vermentino, Funtanaliras, Vermentino di Gallura 2018, Sardinia, Italy

Commended medal winner

£12.87 Bibendum

Tornatore, Etna Bianco 2018, Sicily, Italy

Commended medal winner

£13.93 Bibendum

Settesoli, Mandrarossa, Urra di Mare 2019, Sicily, Italy

Commended medal winner

£10.97 Liberty Wines

Santadi, Villa Solais, Vermentino di Sardegna 2018, Sardinia, Italy

Commended medal winner

£9.15 Enotria&Coe