Waitrose’s performance at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) highlights a number of wines worth seeking out, including three Gold medal-winning wines of different styles, underlining the wide spectrum of the supermarket’s range.
For an ideal apéritif, try Château Jolys, Doux, Jurançon 2021 from Southwest France which scored 95 points for its enticing honey, marmalade and marzipan notes. For something sparkling, go for Hambledon Vineyard’s Première Cuvée Brut NV from Hampshire, England which impressed with its honeyed quince, ripe apple and pear aromas.
Waitrose focuses on quality and value, with Leftfield, Moon Shell Moth Rosé, Hawke’s Bay 2022 from New Zealand awarded a Value Gold, a category for Gold medal winners priced under the £15 mark. For only £11.99 this wine expresses strawberries, cherries and yellow plum with a touch of spice.
Scroll down to see our Waitrose Shopper’s Guide for DWWA-winning wines
Amongst the Silver medal winners you can find at Waitrose, Greystone from New Zealand was awarded two for its Organic Riesling, Waipara 2019 (94 points), described as intense with juicy acidity, and for its Organic Pinot Noir, Waipara 2019 (93 points), praised for its savoury umami backbone of tannins and long finish.
Given Waitrose’s recognised excellence in the category, it comes as no surprise that sparkling wines were strong performers. Winning Silver were two delicious English bottles of bubbles: Hattingley Valley, Classic Reserve Brut NV (92 points) and Gusbourne, Exclusive Release Brut, Kent 2019 (90 points).
This wine specialist has also long been committed to introducing shoppers to quality Sherry across all styles. The Sherries in Waitrose’s ‘In Partnership’ range are made exclusively for the supermarket by Emilio Lustau – a producer with whom the retailer has collaborated for decades.
There were two Silver medal-winning Sherries from the In Partnership range this year: No1 Don Gaspar Dry Amontillado (£11.99) and No1 Torre del Oro Palo Cortado (£12.99). Each selection demonstrates quality and typicity – and for less than £15 per bottle, these classic wines are brilliant value.
Two more Silvers to seek out at Waitrose: Jesús Madrazo, Num. IV, Rioja, Spain 2019 and Citra Vini, Solini Trebbiano-Pinot Grigio, Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy 2022. The latter, priced at only £5.99, is a real steal.
Of the nine Bronze medal winners you can find at Waitrose, there’s a wide variety of styles for every occasion.
Waitrose is a creative-thinking retailer that goes from strength to strength. The below list of award-winning wines is well worth a look before your next shop, in-store or online.
Shopper’s guide: award-winning wines from Waitrose
Gold
Château Jolys, Doux, Jurançon, Southwest France 2021
Gold, 95 points
£12.99
Enticing honey, marmalade and marzipan with a zip of succulent tropical fruit and a whisper of lifting white pepper; pristine and fresh with a searing tension. Truly memorable. Alcohol 12.5%
Hambledon Vineyard, Première Cuvée Brut, Hampshire, England NV
Gold, 95 points
£45
Impressive honeyed quince, ripe apple and pear with an emboldening brioche coating; fresh and lively with a fine bead of graceful bubbles and an endless finish. Alc 12%
Leftfield, Moon Shell Moth Rosé, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand 2022
Value Gold, 95 points
£11.99
Inviting and elegant, with discreet red-fruit aromas, followed by a crisp, textured and well-constructed palate of strawberries, cherries, yellow plum and a touch of spice. Its weight and balance make for a seriously drinkable rosé. Alc 13.5%
Silver
Greystone, Organic Riesling, Waipara, New Zealand 2019
Silver, 94 points
£21.49
Enticing apple, apricot, jasmine and citrus with a steely mineral quality; intense and off dry with a juicy acidity. Alc 12.5%
Greystone, Organic Pinot Noir, Waipara, New Zealand 2019
Silver, 93 points
£25.99
Dark cherry with hints of violets and bramble with a savoury, umami backbone of tannins and a long, firm finish. Alc 14%
Waitrose, In Partnership with Lustau, No1 Don Gaspar Dry Amontillado, Sherry, Spain NV
Silver, 93 points
£11.99
Lovely complex nose with hazelnuts aromas and classic caramel and salty notes. Hints of orange zest on the palate. Alc 18.5%
Hattingley Valley, Classic Reserve Brut, England NV
Silver, 92 points
£33.99
Toasty notes with savoury fruit for depth and richness. Broad based with great balance between lees, fruit and texture. Alc 12%
Jesús Madrazo, Num. IV, Rioja, Spain 2019
Silver, 91 points
£29
Ripe red cherry, spice and herbaceous nose. The structured palate offers blackberry pie with underlying slate and liquorice tones. Super-delicious. Alc 14.5%
Citra Vini, Solini Trebbiano-Pinot Grigio, Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy 2022
Silver, 90 points
£5.99
Early picked, showing herbal, mineral notes. Good texture on the palate and pleasant enough, nicely made. Alc 11%
Gusbourne, Exclusive Release Brut, Kent, England 2019
Silver, 90 points
£39.99
Aromatic apple and lemon blossom with acidity in balance. A nice savoury lees and saline finish with poise. Alc 12%
Waitrose, In Partnership with Lustau, No1 Torre del Oro Palo Cortado, Sherry, Spain NV
Silver, 90 points
£12.99
Developed nose of dried figs, walnuts, caramel and dried apples. Rounded and toasty palate with a lingering dry finish. Alc 19%
Bronze
Waitrose, In Partnership with Cederberg, No1 Chenin Blanc, Cederberg, South Africa 2022
Bronze, 89 points
£11.99
Fresh nose of cut grass, elderflower, oyster shell and guava notes. Crisp and refreshing, zippy acidity. Alc 13%
Waitrose, In Partnership with Cederberg, No1 Syrah, Cederberg, South Africa 2021
Bronze, 89 points
£11.99
Peppery aromas with floral perfume of violets, red fruits and smoke. Harmonious and integrated, polished finish. Alc 14%
Waitrose, In Partnership with Lustau, Dry Oloroso, Sherry, Spain NV
Bronze, 89 points
£12.99
Spice and red fruit nose and palate, medium tannins and a lovely finish. A good food wine. Alc 20%
Stemmari, Passiata, Sicily, Italy 2021
Bronze, 88 points
£10.99
Lifted aromas of dark cherry fruit, blueberry and some floral nuances. Plenty of weight, long finish. Alc 13%
Forte Alto, Pinot Grigio, Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Alto Adige, Italy 2022
Bronze, 87 points
£9.79
Zesty lime, peach and aromatic herb notes with a bright acidity and a fresh finish. Alc 12%
Fourth Wave Wine, Little Giant Shiraz, Barossa, South Australia 2021
Bronze, 87 points
£12.99
Inky nose of blueberry and black currant. Sweet and rich on the palate, very juicy.
Alc 14.5%
Moss Brothers, Moses Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia 2020
Bronze, 87 points
£12.99
Smoky nose with earthy scents and notes of minty dark fruits. Peppery palate, with tight tannins. Alc 14.5%
Symington Family Estates, Altano Organic, Douro, Portugal 2021
Bronze, 87 points
£12.99
Restrained nose of black and red berries with hints of herbs and violets. Dry on the palate. Alc 13.8%
Waitrose, Blueprint Chardonnay, Burgundy, France 2022
Bronze, 87 points
£10.99
Pear, apple and grapefruit with subtle hints of nougat; fresh and bright with a creamy texture. Alc 13%
