Decanter kicked off the first day of Vinexpo by hosting the fair's first masterclass, 'Excellence in unexpected places', showcasing eight medal winning wines from the Decanter World Wine Awards 2015.
Decanter publishing director Sarah Kemp was joined by DWWA chair Steven Spurrier, vice-chair Gerard Basset MW MS OBE, and judges Markus del Monego MW and Paolo Basso, who chose their favourite wines from among this year’s more unexpected medal winners.
Eight wines were selected in total, from the UK, Switzerland, France, Morocco, Turkey and Australia, and the judges spoke about their reasons for highlighting their chosen wines. Gerard Basset MW MS OBE chose the sparkling English wine from Coates & Seely, reminiscing how 30 years ago, on a wine list of 600, only two were English, and that ‘no English man ever drank English wine, only tourists….’
'English wine is like New Zealand in the late 1980s. It's very exciting,' says Gerard Basset MW MS OBE #vinexpo2015 pic.twitter.com/pSqAqD7SZA
— Decanter (@Decanter) June 14, 2015
The masterclass also highlighted the success of the Decanter World Wine Awards in showcasing highly quality wines from unexpected countries and regions, including the Slovenian wine that won international trophy for Sweet wine over £15. As the wines are all judged blind, the awards give the ‘little guys a chance to stand up to the big guys’, said Sarah Kemp.
'This is one of the futures of French wine,' says Steven Spurrier @decanterawards masterclass #vinexpo2015 pic.twitter.com/Lrt7UbFuEh
— Decanter (@Decanter) June 14, 2015
'Just a little glass of this and it cheers you up if you're in a bad mood,' says Gerard Basset @DecanterAwards mclass pic.twitter.com/bedAGjmYwT
— Decanter (@Decanter) June 14, 2015
The wines: Excellence in unexpected places
Coates & Seely, Blanc de Blancs Brut, Hampshire, United Kingdom NV – Regional trophy
Didier Joris, Amigne, Vetroz Grand Cru, Valais, Switzerland 2014 – Gold medal
Musset-Rouiller, Les Neuf VIgnt, Anjou, Loire, France 2014 – Regional trophy
Sauska, Cabernet Franc, Villany, Del-Pannonia, Hungary 2011 – Regional trophy
Chateau Roslane 1er Cru, Coteaux de l’Atlas 1er Cru, Meknes & Fes, Morocco 2011 – Commended
Selendi, Selendi Blend, Aegean Coast Region, Turkey 2012 – Silver medal
Morris, Black Label Liquer Muscat, Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia NV – Gold medal
