NOffLA announced the gold star winners of the Irish Wine Awards 2015/16 at yesterday evening’s SIP 2015 event in The Morrison Hotel in Dublin.
A total of 44 wines across 15 categories were shortlisted, from Under €10 Old World Whites to Under €60 Sparkling Wine/Champagnes.
Both the red and white winners in the Under €10 Old World categories are from the Lisboa region in Portugal. Portuga 2014 is made with a blend of local Portuguese white grapes with added Sauvignon Blanc for freshness, while red wine Lab 2014 is described as packed with fruit and “far more complexity than a wine at this price has any right to.”
When it comes to New World Wines in the same price range, Meerestin Chenin Pinot Grigio 2014, from South Africa’s Western Cape took the gold star for white, and Lindeman’s Cawarra Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, hailing from South East Australia, was named the best red.
From the Coteaux de Libron in France, In Vino Erotic Blanc 2014 was the gold star winner in the Old World White’s under €15, while El Cota Crianza 2011 from Spain took the same award for red.
Another South African bottle topped the list in the New World White Wine, under €15 category, with Danie De Wet Chardonnay 2015 from Robertson taking the gold. A Colchagua Merlot 2013, Montes Classic Series from Chile topped this category in red, drawing compliments for its blackcurrant and plum aroma.
The gold star Rosé wine was named as Chivite Gran Feudo Rosé, from the Navarra region in Spain. The judges praised its intense strawberry and fruit aromas, proclaiming it ‘no wimpish Rosé’.
At the upper end of the price scale, the top Under €20 New World Wines were Suavia Soave Classico D.O.C 2014, a clean and bright white from Venoto in Italy, and Spanish Ondarre Rioja Reserva 2010, a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mazuelo.
Penfold’s Koonunga Hill Autumn Riesling 2014, from South Austrailia took the gold for best Under €20 New World White, being described as “elegant and balanced.” Meanwhile, the top New World Red was named as fellow Ozzie D’Arenberg D’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache 2012.
When it came to bubbly, the ‘Old World’ reigned supreme with La Marco Prosecco from Treviso, Italy named as the best sparkling wine under €25. Piper Heidsieck Champagne, from of course, France was named gold star winner of the Under €60 Sparkling Wine category.
All of the wines shortlisted at the awards will be available with specially marked labels across NOffLA member stores, and in the pre-Christmas period will be promoted as ideal gifts in a variety of special gift packs.
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan
