JULY 2021: The world's largest and most influential wine competition, the Decanter World Wine Awards, has revealed a selection of medal-winning wines to evoke a taste of Summer – no matter what the weather brings. Recently awarded at the 2021 competition, where more than 160 expert judges, including 44 Masters of Wine and 11 Master Sommeliers, tasted a record 18,094 wines, the selected wines are available now from UK retailers.

From top-scoring sparkling wines to celebrate the August Bank Holiday, to BBQ worthy reds and rosé wines that give the feeling of summertime, rain or shine, the award-winning wines have been selected for their impressive quality and value for money. For those looking to 'staycation' and discover the best wines from local winemakers, the Decanter World Wine Awards has also included a round-up of the best UK-produced wines to enjoy this summer. These award-winning wines have been through a rigorous judging process by some of the world's top wine experts. In fact, just 0.28% of the total wines tasted at the 2021 competition secured one of the 50 Best in Show medals. There were also 179 Platinum and 635 Gold medals awarded, making up 0.99% and 3.51% respectively of the total wines tasted.

Sparkling Wines for over £40:

• Private Cellar - Legras & Haas, L.T.S Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, 2008, Champagne, France, awarded the top accolade of 'Best in Show', £90
• Squerry's Cellar Door - Squerryes, Late Disgorged Brut, 2011, Kent, United Kingdom, won Best in Show for its classic 'Champagne' grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It is produced via the 'traditional method', also used in Champagne, which involves a secondary fermentation taking place inside the bottle, £65
• Hedonism Wines - Charles Heidsieck, Rose Reserve, NV, Champagne, France. Another Best in Show, £55

Sparkling Wines for under £30:

• Morrisons - The Best Brut, 2010, England, was awarded a Gold medal and impressed the judges for its assertive nutty toast and bruised apple aromatics, £25.00
• Waitrose - Blanc de Noirs, NV, Champagne, France, was awarded a Silver medal. This rich & fruity Champagne triumphed with its fresh red apple aroma with biscuity yeast and red berry fruits, £19.19
• Co-Op - Les Pionniers Brut, NV, Champagne, France, won an impressive Silver medal for its engaging nutty notes with hints of redcurrant and dark chocolate. Judges were particularly impressed with its red fruit character and long and chalky finish, £19.00

Red Wines for over £25

• Sainsbury's - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Ogier's Clos de L'Oratoires des Papes, 2019, Rhône, France, was awarded a Gold medal for its black cherry aromatics with floral notes. This full and rich wine with fine fruit and texture has lovely tannins. It is long and focused and is a very drinkable and elegant wine, £29.00
• Waitrose - Trefethen, Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019, Napa Valley, California, United States. Was awarded the prestigious award of Best in Show, for the second year running.  The wine is still dark black-purple, and the aromatic currant and berry fruits are blue, tender and enticing, with skilled and seamless oak integration. On the palate, the wine has weight and depth, £45.00

Red Wines for under £15

• Aldi - Specially Selected Criollo Tannat, 2019, Uruguay, won Silver, with its pretty nose of spicy red fruit, milk chocolate and oriental spice. Its velvety palate with earthy undertones makes the perfect choice for a warming drink, £6.99
• Morrisons - The Best Negroamaro, 2020, Puglia, Italy, won a Silver medal for its ripe morello cherry, plum and raisin aromas. It is notorious for its gripping tannins with a juicy core, a smooth and concentrated wine with lovely structure, £7.25
• ASDA - Extra Special Chianti Classico, 2018, Tuscany, Italy, scored 90 points achieving a Bronze medal at the awards. It is composed of 100% Sangiovese and has charming aromas of sweet oak with mulberry, sour cherry and floral notes, £7.75
• Tesco - Vinalba, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2020, Uco Valley, Argentina gained a Silver medal for its lovely nose of green pepper, cedar, coffee beans vanilla and intense black fruit. This is an interesting wine with a somewhat minty palate, rich structure, and intensity, £10.00

Rose Wines for over £25

• Majestic - AIX, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, 2020, Provence, France, was awarded a Bronze medal. Very pale pink, with bright red fruit & ripe strawberries on the nose. Good intensity and fresh acidity, £68.99
• Corney & Barrow - Ambriel's Rosé, 2015, West Sussex, England, won Silver for its bright ripe strawberry and rhubarb aromas. Full and long with tangy, maturing flavours and a refreshing finish, £28.95
• Berry Bros. & Rudd - Chateau d'Esclans, Garrus, Côtes de Provence, 2019, Provence, France was awarded Gold for its perfumed nose of blueberry, wild strawberries and minty raspberries with toasty nuances. Bold yet refined on the palate with a persistent spicy finish. Quite charming, £100.00
• Justerini & Brooks - Domaine Montrose's Prestige IGP Côtes de Thongue, 2020, Languedoc, France, won a Silver. Think lifted strawberry and rose nose with a stone minerality. Appetising sleek texture showing creamy berry fruit, £41.00

Rose Wines for under £15

• Aldi - Specially Selected Baron Amarillo, 2020, Spain won a Bronze for its bright, fresh lean style with a green herbal edge and fresh appeal. Simple and linear finish, £6.99
• Aldi - Maple Leaf Rosé, 2019, Ontario, Canada, was awarded a Bronze medal. Lean and aromatic with a subtle nose of peach, strawberry, and rosewater. Perfumed and evocatively floral, £9.99
• Morrisons - The Best, Côtes de Provence, 2020, Provence, France, picked up a Bronze medal with its clean nose with simple, ripe fruit. Strawberry, sherbet and a herbaceous whiff on the palate. Well-made and good value for money, this rosé is available for, £8.00
• ASDA - Extra Special Côtes de Provence Rosé, 2020, Provence, France, also won a Bronze medal – think cool red fruits, quite light and elegant in style. Has some freshness and citrus notes, with slight pepper and a bit of weight. Refreshing and simple, £9.00

Top UK Wines

• Aldi - Bowler & Brolly Specially Selected, 2020, South East, England, won a Bronze medal for its fresh and light style. It has raspberry and grapefruit flavours with a light sweetness and refreshing finish, £8.99
• Morrisons - The Best English Dry White, 2018, England won Bronze also, for its fresh lemon, grassy and asparagus nose. Fruit concentration with a firm gooseberry finish, £14.00
• Berry Bros. & Rudd - Flint Vineyard, Silex Blanc, 2019, Norfolk, England won a Silver medal. It has a concentration of stone fruit on the nose and is full-bodied, with pretty fruit characters and a streak of toasty vanilla, £18.99
• Berry Bros. & Rudd - Flint Vineyard, Bacchus, 2019, Norfolk, England was awarded another Silver for its lively blackcurrant leaf, thyme and lemongrass aromas. Fine-tuned palate with pure fruit concentration and a long, elegant finish, £18.50
• Harrods - Chapel Down's Kit's Coty Bacchus, 2019, Kent, England, won Gold for its freshest of fresh aromas leading to a rich and full palate. Excellent concentration of gooseberry and lemon curd flavours. Long mineral finish, £25

Sarah Jane Evans, Master of Wine (MW) and DWWA 2021 Co-Chair, said of this year's competition: 'You know that this is something that's been through a really rigorous judging process. We're not playing at judging here. This is blind tasting. We have absolutely no idea what the wines are and we're tasting them not only in panels together where we have to each discuss and think about them deeply, but then they go up to Regional Chairs who are experts in those countries and also have a chance to step back and decide whether they really are the right Gold medal winners.

 'Then they go up to the Co-Chairs who re-taste and think again. So actually, that rigour, that independence is really, really a wonderful thing to have for a medal, so whether you get a Bronze, or a Silver or a Gold you can know it's been hard won.'

Visit https://awards.decanter.com/DWWA to view a full list of winners.

The Decanter World Wine Awards Co-Chairs and key spokespeople are available for interviews, please use the contact details below to arrange.

marketing@decanter.com

decanter@clementinecom.com

Notes to Editors

About DWWA

Launched in 2004 and now in its 18th year, the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is the world's largest and most influential wine competition.

It is the trusted relationship that Decanter - the world's leading wine media brand - has with an international audience of both consumers and trade that sets DWWA apart from other competitions.

Sustainability is a key focus for the DWWA team. All plastic and cardboard is collected and recycled, while every bottle is crushed and remelted, ready to be remade into usable glass within 30 days. All leftover wine is also collected, recycled and sold back into the national grid as gas.

Full details on the judging process can be found here.

The PPA Awards 2021

DWWA recently won Event of the Year at the prestigious PPA Awards 2021.

See more information here.

About Decanter

Decanter is the world's leading wine media brand with a total monthly reach in excess of 2.2 million via our print magazine, websites and social media channels.

Engaging with wine lovers in more than 100 countries around the globe, Decanter provides authoritative content, independent advice and inspirational events and competitions.

www.decanter.com