Brancott Estate wins double gold at the San Francisco international wine competition 2020

Leading New Zealand wine brand Brancott Estate has bolstered its credentials as the UK’s number two white wine[1] by adding a Double Gold accolade to its Flight Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc varietal. Judges at the San Francisco International Wine Competition unanimously awarded the 2020 vintage the prestigious accolade in the Total Sauvignon Blanc category after scoring the white wine 95 points out of 100, making it one of only five Sauvignon Blanc wines to win the coveted Double Gold medal.

Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc is naturally lighter in alcohol with an ABV of 9%, and uses a natural winemaking approach to create a wine that is 20% lighter in calories compared to a typical wine of the same varietal[2]. Providing a low-ABV alternative, whilst maintaining the brand’s classically ‘Marlborough’ taste profile, Brancott Estate Flight is expressive, bright, and fresh, with balanced natural acidity. It is made using selected grapes harvested earlier in the season when their sugar levels are naturally lower.

Introduced in 1980, the San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC) has set the standard for professional wine judging for the last four decades. The SFIWC is one of the largest and most influential wine competitions, attracting entries from more than 3,000 wines from 31 countries. It maintains the highest level of integrity with a blind-tasting system performed by a highly experienced panel of internationally acclaimed wine experts, and wines recognised as medal-worthy by SFIWC judges are universally understood to be among the very best.

Lucy Bearman, Wine Portfolio Director at Pernod Ricard UK, comments: “San Francisco International Wine Competition medallions have become reliable indicators of wine excellence across the globe, and we’re proud the judges have recognised Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc as a lighter-style wine which doesn’t compromise on taste, making it the only low alcohol wine to win a Double Gold. The UK low/no wine category is worth £39.8m[3] and the demand for low ABV and low-calorie wines only looks set to continue as consumer interest in health and wellness accelerates, particularly as we head into the new year.”

• Estate Flight Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a lively wine with fragrant passion fruit, lemons and grapefruit aromas on the nose, followed by ripe lemon sherbet flavours that change to mangos. The palate shows great balance with a refreshing, crisp and lively acidity that works wonderfully as an aperitif, served with canapés such as smoked salmon blinis and pairs beautifully with white fish, seafood, and lighter meat dishes, like a chicken and pomegranate salad.

Brancott Estate Flight is available from Asda, Sainsbury's and Ocado at an RRP of £9.