WineGB Wessex announces the winners of its annual 2023 awards

WineGB Wessex has announced the winners of its annual 2023 awards at a Celebration Lunch held at The PIG hotel in Brokenhurst (14th November). This is the 39th year of the awards for what is the third largest of WineGB’s regional bodies. Over 50 wineries from across Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Wiltshire submitted wines for the competition.

Once again WineGB Wessex has joined forces with The PIG Hotels, who have continued their support as award sponsors. The PIG in Brockenhurst hosted the judging, which took place on 13th November and a Celebration Lunch on 14th November at which “The PIG” Wessex Wine of the Year Trophy, was presented to Langham Wine Estate for their NV Corallian Classic by Head of Wine at The PIG group, Luke Harbor.

The 2023 WineGB Wessex Trophy Winners are:

• The PIG Wessex Wine of the Year Trophy ~ Langham Estate, Corallian Classic NV

• The Best in Wessex Sparkling Brut Trophy ~ Langham Estate, Corrallin Classic NV

• The Best in Wessex Sparkling Rosé Trophy ~ Candover Valley, Rosé 2018

• The Best in Wessex Still Wine Trophy ~ The Wharie Experience, Orion 2022

For vineyards of 2ha or less, there are two specific awards:

• The John Youles Trophy (Still) ~ Brook Hill, Forest Red 2019

• The Roger Marchbank Trophy (Sparkling) ~ Domaine Hugo, Hugo 2019

The judges for the 2023 Awards were: Nik Darlington (Chair), Graft Wine Company; Phoebe French, WineGB; Luke Harbor, The PIG Hotels; Ed Dallimore, 59 vines; Poppy Seeley, Defined Wines; and Heather Smith, Solent Wine Cellar.

Commenting on the awards, The PIG’s Head of Wine Luke Harbor said: “The judging gets harder every year. The quality we saw across the entires this year was exceptional. It is a real pleasure to see the ambition on show from the regions producers who continue to surprise us with the range of styles and consistency of quality, congratulations to all the winners!”

WineGB Wessex Chair, and founder of Black Chalk Wine, Jacob Leadley, commented: “Wessex is one of the most exciting and diverse of the UK’s wine regions; the wines entered into this years competition showcase this diversity and the regions potential for top quality English wine. We were again delighted to partner with The PIG Hotels who are one of the leading endorsers of local food and drink producers, we are grateful for their support of Wessex Wines and for hosting our Celebration Lunch.”

Source: https://winegb.co.uk/press-releases/winegb-wessex-announces-winners-of-2023-awards/