On March 13, a dozen expert and consumer judges met in Beijing for the Grape Wall Challenge and tasted 21 white wines that retail for less than RMB100 in China (see gallery). It was a close finish for best white wine among the experts, who rated each one out of 20 points, while a clear winner emerged among the consumers, who had four choices: “love it“, “like it“, “dislike it” or “hate it“. Overall, Zonin Terre Palladiane Soave, distributed by Torres China, took top honors.
The wines were from Chile (8), France (4), Italy (4), Australia (3), Argentina (1) and Spain (1). Here are “top tens” of the expert panel, the consumer panel, and the combined panel. (Lists of the top ten red wines will be up by 3 PM.)
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EXPERT PANEL: Top 10 White Wines
1 (tie)
Concha y Toro Frontera (Sauvignon Blanc) 2007, Chile / Summergate, RMB79
Bushman’s Gully (Semillon, Chardonnay) 2008, Australia / Links, RMB92
3
Stella Solaris (Chardonnay) 2006, Chile / Top Cellar, RMB62
4
Heartland Stickleback White (Chardonnay, Verdelho, Semillon) 2006, Australia / Palette, RMB99
5
Zonin Terre Palladiane Soave DOC (Garganega, Trebbiano) 2007, Italy / Torres, RMB96
6 (tie)
Chateau Roque-Peyre AOC (Montravel Sauvignon-Semillon) 2007, France / BJ Winestore, RMB89
French Paradox Reserve (Viognier) 2006, France / French Wine Paradox, RMB90
8
San Medin (Sauvignon Blanc) 2007, Chile / Torres, RMB91
9
Santa Rita 120 (Sauvignon Blanc) 2008, Chile / ASC, RMB93
10 (tie)
Farnese Primo Malvasia IGT (Malvasia) 2007, Italy / ASC, RMB92
Santa Helena Reserva (Chardonnay) 2005, Chile / Links, RMB96
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CONSUMER PANEL: Overall Top 10 White Wines
1
Zonin Terre Palladiane Soave DOC (Garganega, Trebbiano) 2007, Italy / Torres, RMB96
2 (tie)
Farnese Primo Malvasia IGT (Malvasia) 2007, Italy / ASC, RMB92
Bushman’s Gully (Semillon, Chardonnay) 2008, Australia / Links, RMB92
4 (tie)
Santa Rita 120 (Sauvignon Blanc) 2008, Chile / ASC, RMB93
Santa Helena Reserva (Chardonnay) 2005, Chile / Links, RMB96
6 (tie)
Stella Solaris (Chardonnay) 2006, Chile / Top Cellar, RMB62
San Medin (Sauvignon Blanc) 2007, Chile / Torres, RMB91
Santa Carolina (Sauvignon Blanc) 2007, Chile / Aussino, RMB98
9 (tie)
Concha y Toro Frontera (Sauvignon Blanc) 2007, Chile / Summergate, RMB79
Chateau Roque-Peyre AOC (Montravel Sauvignon-Semillon) 2007, France / BJ Winestore, RMB89
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COMBINED PANELS: Overall Top 10 White Wines
1
Zonin Terre Palladiane Soave DOC (Garganega, Trebbiano) 2007, Italy / Torres, RMB96
2
Bushman’s Gully (Semillon, Chardonnay) 2008, Australia / Links, RMB92
3
Farmese Primo Malvasia IGT (Malvasia) 2007, Italy / ASC, RMB92
4
Stella Solaris (Chardonnay) 2006, Chile / Top Cellar, RMB62
5
Santa Rita 120 (Sauvignon Blanc) 2008, Chile / ASC, RMB93
6
Santa Helena Reserva (Chardonnay) 2005, Chile / Links, RMB96
7 (tie)
Concha y Toro Frontera (Sauvignon Blanc) 2007, Chile / Summergate, RMB79
San Medin (Sauvignon Blanc) 2007, Chile / Torres, RMB91
9
Chateau Roque-Peyre AOC (Montravel Sauvignon-Semillon) 2007, France / BJ Winestore, RMB89
10
French Paradox Reserve (Viognier) 2006, France / French Wine Paradox, RMB90
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See also:
- Grape Wall Challenge: Top white wines in China under RMB100
- Grape Wall Challenge: Top red wines in China under RMB100
- Grape Wall Challenge: Expert panel
- Grape Wall Challenge: Consumer panel – white wine
- Grape Wall Challenge: Consumer panel – red wines
- Grape Wall Challenge: Photo gallery
- Grape Wall Challenge: List of posts
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