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14 brilliant white wines for spring 2023

06 April 2023 By Patrick Schmitt

As the days lengthen, and Easter approaches, we bring you the best white wines from our Spring Tasting, which sees 2023’s latest releases judged ‘blind’ by a panel of the trade’s top tasters.

The 2023 competition was judged on 8 February in London

Read on to see the top white wines from The Spring Tasting, and click here to see all the medallists from the competition.

HENNERS, FOXEARLE ENGLISH SPARKLING BRUT, 2016

Producer: Henners Vineyard
Region: East Sussex
Country: United Kingdom
Vintage: 2016
Grape varieties: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir
ABV: 12.5%
Approx. retail price: £40

A delicious example of English sparkling wine using predominantly Chardonnay from the first-rate 2016 harvest in East Sussex. Loaded with orchard fruit flavours, from crisp apple to creamy pear, there’s also a note of baked bread, a touch of beeswax, and a fresh, dry, chalky-tasting finish.

SINGING, GRUNER VELTLINER

Producer: Laurenz V.
Region: Kamptal DAC
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 100% Grüner Veltliner
ABV: 12.5%
Residual sugar: 3.7g/l
Approx. retail price: £12

This ‘singing’ Gruner Veltliner uses grapes from Kamptal to yield a deliciously fruity but refreshing white wine, with notes of peach and apricot, followed by lemon zest and white pepper, and then a fine, phenolic grip, which brings a pleasantly dry edge to the drop.

BERG UND MEER, RIESLING

Producer: Fink und Kotzian
Region: Niederosterreich
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2019
Grape varieties: 100% Riesling
ABV: 13%
Residual sugar: 10.4g/l
Approx. retail price: £17

A delicious off-dry Riesling with notes of peach, orange blossom and lime zest, with a smoky, toasty edge, then a touch of elastic band, followed by a persistent, citrus-fresh finish.

PINOT BLANC, Z.T.

Producer: Fink und Kotzian OG
Region: Niederosterreich
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2020
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Blanc
ABV: 13%
Residual sugar: 1.2g/l
Closure: Screw Cap
Approx. retail price: £15
Medal: Gold

A lovely example of Pinot Blanc with its pear and peach characters and fresh, zesty citrusy edge, which is complemented by a note of wet stone in what is a dry, crisp, and complex white wine.

CHARDONNAY, O.T.

Producer: Fink und Kotzian OG
Region: Niederosterreich
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2019
Grape varieties: 100% Chardonnay
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 4.8g/l
Closure: Screw Cap
Approx. retail price: £25
Medal: Gold

A generous, slightly viscous white wine with plenty of melon and peach fruit, and lingering note of charred bread and salt crystals.

KRISPEL SAUVIGNON BLANC, RIED NEUSETZBERG, ALTE REBEN, ERSTE LAGE

Producer: Krispel
Region: Vulkanland Steiermark DAC
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2019
Grape varieties: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
ABV: 13%
Residual sugar: 1.7g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £24.50
Medal: Master

A powerful Sauvignon Blanc with passion fruit, pear and fresh limes, along with a creamy character, some smokiness too, and a hint of pea shoot and nettle. layered, fruity and refreshing.

PREIB GRÜNER VELTLINER, RIED BRUNNDOPPEL

Producer: Weinkultur Preiß
Region: Traisental DAC
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 100% Grüner Veltliner
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 3.2g/l
Closure: Screw Cap
Approx. retail price: £25
Medal: Gold

A first-rate salty, peppery Gruner Veltliner with a core of peach and a zesty lime-flavoured finish.

SCHMID, RIESLING, RIED HAID

Producer: Schmid
Region: Kamptal DAC
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 100% Riesling
ABV: 13%
Residual sugar: 6.5%
Closure:Screw Cap
Approx. retail price: £25
Medal: Gold

A deliciously rich Riesling with flavours of ripe peach and apricot, and a really persistent finish, with lovely, lingering notes of ripe lime, salt and wet stone.

SCHNEEBERGER CHARDONNAY, RIED FLAMBERG

Producer: Schneeberger
Region: Sudsteiermark DAC
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 100% Chardonnay
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 2.3g/l
Closure: Screw Cap
Approx. retail price: £17
Medal: Gold

Toast and yellow stone fruit dominate this intense, ripe, layered Chardonnay, with a peach-kernel note, and some fine tannin that brings a dry, mouth-watering character to the finish.

WEIXELBAUM GRÜNER VELTLINER, ANNO DAZUMAL

Producer: Weixelbaum
Region: Osterreich
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2017
Grape varieties: 100% Grüner Veltliner
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 3g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £40
Medal: Gold

A fine and generous Grüner Veltliner with notes of rose petals, ripe pear, and white pepper, with a slightly viscous mouthfeel with a bright, spicy, chalky finish.

SEYFRIED SAUVIGNON BLANC, RIED HOHENBERG

Producer: Seyfried
Region: Vulkanland Steiermark DAC
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2020
Grape varieties: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 3.3g/l
Approx. retail price: £25

Stryian Sauvignon Blanc is intensely flavoured and fine, especially this example from Seyfried, which takes things up a gear with some barrel influence. Mingling with the peach, pear and lime fruits are notes of vanilla and toast, even a touch of freshly struck match, then zesty acidity, before the wine gradually fades, leaving behind some fine tannins to bring a pleasant dryness to the finish.

LA PETTEGOLA

Producer: Banfi
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2021/22
Grape varieties: 100% Vermentino
ABV: 13%
Residual sugar: 6.13g/l
Approx. retail price: £12

A delicious white wine from Banfi using Vermentino from the Tuscan coast, there’s sweet peach and pink grapefruit, then citrus zest and bitter almond, even a hint of sage. An intense, layered, fruity and refreshing drop.

LETH ROTER VELTLINER, RIED SCHEIBEN, 1ÖTW

Producer: Leth
Region: Wagram DAC
Country: Austria,
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 100% Roter Veltliner
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 2.3g/l
Approx. retail price: £25

Peach and pear fruit mixes with fennel, crushed stone, pepper and grapefruit zest in this full-bodied, gently spritzy, powerful and refreshing white wine.

KRISPEL GRAUBURGUNDER, RIED HOCHSTRANDL, ALTE REBEN, GROSSE LAGE

Producer: Krispel
Region: Vulkanland Steiermark DAC
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2019
Grape varieties: 100% Grauburgunder
ABV: 13.5%,
Residual sugar: 3.3g/l
Approx. retail price: £40

A smoky, toasty white with lemon and peach fruit, then an apple-fresh finish, with an appealing salty edge, that adds persistence to this fine, powerful Pinot Gris.

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Spring Tasting Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 8 February at The Footman, Mayfair, London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Spring Tasting Master. This report features the medal winners only.

Please visit The Global Wine Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

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