The Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters 2022 has recognised Woodchester Valley Vineyard's Sauvignon Blanc as one of the very best in the world.
Its 2021 Sauvignon Blanc was given the highest possible award in the competition, making it the first English still wine to have won a Master medal in the competition - and the only wine in the 'unoaked' category to achieve Master level, too.
A panel of expert judges, including Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers, taste all entries completely blind with no prior knowledge of the wine producer or place of origin, basing their decisions on rigorous criteria. Master medallists must be ‘an outstanding example of its type, showing impeccable winemaking’, with the panel favouring the Cotswolds wine over contenders from around the world to position it as one of the very best on the market.
The family-run vineyard is no stranger to awards, winning three international wine medals in the Decanter awards in 2022; a gold medal for its 2017 Rosé Brut in the WineGB Awards 2020; and a gold medal for its 2018 Sauvignon Blanc in the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2019.
Founder and owner of Woodchester Valley Vineyard, Fiona Shiner, said: 'It's a phenomenal result for us. Eyebrows were raised in 2015 when I planted Sauvignon Blanc in the Cotswolds... nearly eight years later to have our Sauvignon Blanc wine judged one of the finest in the world and by such a prestigious panel of judges - it really doesn't get much better than that!
'From the first taste of the juice from the 2021 harvest we were excited about its potential and are immensely proud of winning this award. We hope this highlights that England can produce great quality still wines as well as sparkling.'
Winemaker, Jeremy Mount, added: 'Sauvignon Blanc is a relatively new variety to the UK so it's extremely rewarding to be given this award from such an esteemed panel of judges, acknowledging the quality of our Sauvignon Blanc against other world class wines.'
Woodchester Valley Vineyard's Master medal-winning 2021 Sauvignon Blanc is available from its Cellar Door shop in Woodchester near Stroud, or from its online shop.
