Which producers stood out in the 2020 London Wine Competition? The main highlights are listed below.
The London Wine Competition is now into its third year and firmly establishing itself as a very different and appealing alternative to the big mainstream international events that base all their awards on the scores from blind tasting. The London Wine Competition starts by blind tasting all wines using leading wine buyers from all channels of the trade, but then, crucially, also judges the wines on their value and quality according to their price point and, then, finally, what they look like to the consumer by assessing their design and packaging.
Scores are weighted to take into consideration all three criteria and the medals based on that. In so doing it wants to get as close to determining a wine’s success based on how the average consumer would do so standing in a wine aisle in a supermarket, or selecting a wine in a restaurant or bar.
This year’s competition saw about 1,000 entries from more than 43 countries, including new wine producing countries like India. There were 198 entries wines from Australia, 126 from Italy, 124 from France, 101 from Spain making them the top four countries taking part.
The top five varieties that were entered included Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon (121), Chardonnay (97), Merlot (70) and Sauvignon Blanc (63). The biggest improvement in score by country was the United States which had the highest average score by country followed by France.
Major awards
Winnning winemaker, producer and winery Chester Osborn outside d’Arenberg’s Cube project which has done so much to attract tourists and attention to the McLaren Vale
- Wine of The Year: The Dead Arm Shiraz 2017, Australia, McLaren Vale – 97 points.
- Winery of The Year: d’Arenberg, Australia, McLaren Vale
- Best Wine By Quality: The Dead Arm Shiraz 2017, Australia, McLaren Vale – 97 points.
- Best Wine By Value: Villa Saletta Chianti 2015, Toscana IGT, Italy – 96 points.
- Best Wine By Packaging: Silverado Vineyards SOLO Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, United States – 95 points.
Best wines by country
France: Beaune Toussaints 1er Cru 2017
Italy: Fattoria Villa Saletta Società Agricola srl Chianti
Australia: The Dead Arm
United States: Silverado Vineyards SOLO Cabernet Sauvignon
Argentina: Alpasión Grand Cabernet Franc
Spain: Fruto Noble Roble
Chile: Since 1825
Portugal: Perspectiva Reserva
Best wines by varietal
Shiraz / Syrah: The Dead Arm from Australia
Merlot: Shaw Wines Estate Merlot from Australia
Chardonnay: Grevino Chardonnay from United States
Pinot Noir: Beaune Toussaints 1er Cru 2017 from France
Cabernet Sauvignon: Silverado Vineyards SOLO Cabernet Sauvignon from United States
Sparkling Wine: Domaine Du Chant D’éole from Belgium
