WINE AWARDS 2023
Cheers! W&H WINE AWARDS
Welcome to the first woman&home Wine Awards, designed to make it easy for you to find greattasting, top-quality wines for any occasion.
We’ve chosen wines that are food-friendly, can fuel a party or stand proudly beside your festive centrepiece. Enjoy them with friends, family – or make a quiet dinner for two extra special.
Alongside standbys from traditional regions across France, Italy, Spain and the New World, you’ll find wines from less-familiar grape varieties and upcoming regions. Each bottle selected can be trusted to deliver on taste and value for money.
How we tasted
Our tasting panel, led by the wine experts at our sister title, Decanter, joined by members of the woman&home food and lifestyle team, selected wines for quality and taste. Tasters knew the prices, so we could make straight judgements about value for money. We also judged the wines on how well they would work with food, with a few suggested pairings.
SPARKLING
M&S Prosecco DOC, Italy, 11% ABV, £9.99
Made for M&S at a family-run estate in north-east Italy’s Veneto region, this is textbook Prosecco. The gentle apple and pear fruit flavours are crisp and defined, offset by a gentle fizz. A great party wine that’s relatively low in alcohol.
Aldi Castellore Organic Prosecco Extra Dry DOC, Italy, 11.5% ABV, £7.99
Friendly on the planet and the palate, it is citrusy and gently herbaceous, with a welcome touch of sweetness to balance the acidity. Refreshing, party-ready – and great value.
Waitrose No.1 Castillo Perelada Cava Brut, Spain, £11.5% ABV, £11.49
GREAT WITH FOOD
A Cava with character, this wine has attractive saline notes mixed with green-apple flavours. Bright, clean and intense, it would work brilliantly with tapas and savoury canapés.
M&S Vintage Cava Brut 2019, Spain, 12% ABV, £14
PERFECT FOR PARTIES
A step up from basic Cava, the extra bottle age gives this wine more depth. We liked the gentle almond notes among the bright lemony notes.
Delacourt Champagne Brut NV, 12.5% ABV, £22, M&S
Golden and creamy with aromas of buttered toast, flavours of lemon curd and delicate bubbles – all you could want from a good Champagne, and it comes at an affordable price.
Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Champagne Brut NV, France, 12.5% ABV, £26.99
TOP SUPERMARKET CHAMPAGNE
Cranberry and redcurrant, with lively acidity. Would work well with food too, making it a great celebratory wine.
With the festive season upon us, there are more reasons than ever to pop the cork on a bottle or two of English sparkling wine. The quality (and choice) has never been better – that alone is cause for celebration.
Balfour Hush Heath Estate Classic Cuvée NV, Kent, 11.5% ABV,
