2022 Wine Results: Could Peloponnese Rosé be the new Provence Rosé?

Highlights:

• IWSC announces results from first dedicated rosé judging
• Entries from more than 20 countries including Brazil, Romania and Georgia
• More than just a sparkling wine nation, three English rosés receive medals

Announcing the winners of its 2022 wine awards, the IWSC is delighted to share the results of its first dedicated rosé judging. Recognising the establishment of rosé as an equally relevant and popular category of wine amongst consumers, the world’s most established drinks awards gathered experts from across the international wine industry to taste the hundreds of entrants from across the wine producing world.

Wines were received from over 20 countries, including Brazil, Canada, Morocco, Greece, Turkey, Romania as well as more established nations including France Spain and Italy as well as closer to home from England.

Highlighting how difficult it is for producers to create industry leading, quality rosé, only one gold medal was awarded to a Provençal rosé, Château La Gordonne.

There were silver and bronze medals aplenty for this increasingly popular, pink style of wine. Judges awarded 47 silver medals including to Fileri Rosé 2021 from Greece’s Peloponnese region and Dom Diogo Padeiro 2021 by Quinta da Raza from Portugal’s Vinho Verde region, which is traditionally better known for its pétillante white wines.

Bronze medals were awarded to Brazil’s 2021 Pinot Noir Rosé, Cooperativa Vinícola Garibaldi and Georgia’s 2021 Saperavi Rosé, JSC Tbilvino. Medals were also awarded to rosé wines from Romaina, Macedonia, Turkey, Cyprus, Moldova and Morocco verifying the advancing wine scene in these countries. More than just sparkling wine, three rosés from England also received medals: 2020 Dancing Dog Rosé, Off The Line Winery in East Sussex, 2021 Cherry Garden Rosé by Gusbourne in Kent and from Gloucestershire, 2021 Pinot Rosé by Woodchester Valley Winery.

Following judging we caught up with some of the IWSC’s judges to discuss the changes in the Rosé wine scene. Freddy Bulmer, Wine Buyer for The Wine Society commented: “I personally absolutely love rosé. I think it's a wonderful category of wine and I think it's probably more exciting now than it ever has been.

“For me, I want to see producers continue to make unique rosé's - really trying to get the terroir of the region out in the rosé. I think it's every bit as much a valid wine style as white or red wine and it’s great to see the IWSC highlight this in its awards.

“Crucially, while rosé is often see as something which is great for drinking in the sun on its own, it can also make a good food pairing wine. If you’re looking for something a bit different to pair with tuna steak for instance, some of the full-bodied rosés hit the spot, for example Tavel rosé, or as we’ve seen from Greece, Xinomavro rosé can be brilliant option with pork or white meats. So, it's a very exciting category, and one to get behind and promote the individualism within rosé and recognise it in the same way as white and red wine.”

Diana Rollan, Group Head of Beverage at restaurant group D&D London confirmed consumers growing enamour for rosé:

“Over the past few years while we've heard about the gaining popularity of spirits, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, sales at D&D also show rosé to be the only category within wine to enjoy increasing sales.

“Customers across our London venues are enjoying rosé throughout the year, no longer limiting it to just the summer months. Unsurprisingly, Provence is the key style, people like that lighter, more fruity style, so to aid further exploration we are building our list. Whereas before we may have only had one rosé by the glass, we now offer a wider range of styles and price points, building D&D’s year-round offer and developing food matching experiences.”

For a full list of the IWSC’s 2022 winners, visit here.