WINES FOR WINE TASTINGS

Based on our nineteen monthly wine tastings so far, what wines do well at blind wine tastings:

In terms of country, our rankings, based on the average position the wines finished in our tastings, are as follows:

1. Spain (avg position 2.2)– 4 winners out of 10 wines

2. Chile (avg position 2.5)– 2 winners out of 4 wines

3. New Zealand (avg position 2.5)– 2 winners out of 6 wines

4. South Africa (avg position 3)– 2 winners out of 7 wines

5.  Australia (avg position 3.6)– 2 winners out of 9 wines

6. France (avg position 3.9)– 2 winners out of 44 wines

7. Italy (avg position 4)– 3 winners out of 22 wines.

Greece and Argentina have also had winning wines but as we have had three or less wines from these countries, they are excluded. 

Based on our tastings the best Old World wine country is clearly Spain and we should be drinking more of their wines.   Apart from Spain the New World countries dominate our rankings even though we have tasted less of them.  A lesson for organisers of wine evenings, perhaps?

In terms of types of wine, Sparkling wines have proved the most popular with 3 winners out of 10 wines tasted.   Red wines have proved slightly more popular than white wines with nine winners compared to five, but don’t discount rosés as they have won too.  Dessert wines have managed one winner out of two wines so don’t forget them either.

As far as grape varieties are concerned there are no firm conclusions.   However, Sauvignon Blanc whites tend to do quite well.   As far as reds are concerned blends with Tempranilla, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon combinations seem to be the favourite.

So to conclude, do serve some Spanish and New World reds but don't forget to throw in a sparking wine and some New World Sauvignon Blanc.   A wine from somewhere unusual like Greece could earn you some rave reviews as well.  Don't forget France and Italy all together but somehow they seem to lack the blind rating punch, in the ten pound price range, compared to the wines of some other countries.