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The 2025 Wine Merchant Top 100 winners have been announced.

Congratulations to all the producers and importers who made the cut this year. These are the 10% of wines that came out on top after a tough day of judging in April, in which 36 independent merchants tasted nearly 1,000 wines.

The winners are listed according to style in the list below. The price we quote is the recommended retail price as supplied by the entrant.

The wines are numbered from 1 to 100 as this is the system we’ve used for the stand at the London Wine Fair, to make it easier to navigate. These numbers do not indicate any position within the Top 100.

SPARKLING WINE

1. Sparkling Wine Trophy : Grande Réserve, Premier Cru, Pierre Mignon, Champagne, France NV, £35.74
2. Best Value Sparkling Wine Trophy : Llopart Corpinnat Brut Panoramic, Penedès 2018, £26.75
3. Champagne Taittinger Brut Vintage 2016, £60
4. Hattingley Valley Kings Cuvée 2017, £88
5. Black Elephant Vintners MCC Zero Dosage Blanc de Blancs 2011, £28.95

WHITE WINE

6. White Wine Trophy: Domaine Belleville Rully La Crée 2022, £36.50
7. Best Value White Wine Trophy: Mauricio Lorca Calma Indómita Albarin 2023, £17.75
8. Domaine Chevrot Maranges Blanc 2022, £48.99
9. Integro Verdeca Puglia IGP 2023, £11.99
10. Riesling Kabinett, Ürzig Würzgarten, Weingut Mönchhof 2018, £17.99
11. Meursault, Grands Charrons, Domaine Philippe Bouzereau 2022, £66
12. Mineralium Chenin Blanc 2023, £10.99
13. Lugana doc Vigne Alte, Zeni 2023, £17.49
14. Roodekrantz Donkermaan Chenin Blanc 2023, £29
15. Moillard Grivot Premium Chardonnay 2023, £26
16. Two Paddocks Picnic Riesling 2022, £24.99
17. Clayvin Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2018, £26.49
18. Custoza Biscardo DOC 2024, £11.49
19. Neethlingshof Gewurztraminer 2024, £18
20. Samuel’s Collection Eden Valley Viognier 2022, £17.99
21. Gelblack Trocken Riesling, Schloss Johannisberg, Rheingau 2023, £26.22
22. Le Charme Sauvignon Blanc by Christine Cabri 2024, £10.49
23. Sancerre Blanc, La Grand Rue, Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy 2023, £33.75
24. Ontanon Rioja Blanco 2023, £13
25. Nautilus Estate Chardonnay 2022, £24
26. Daschbosch Mossiesdrift Steen 2023, £20
27. Grüner Veltliner, Löss, Weingut Rabl 2023, £15.49
28. Domaine Benoit Badoz Vin Jaune Les Roussots 2018, £49

ROSÉ WINE

29. Rosé Wine Trophy: Xinomavro/Limniona, Apla Rosé, Oenops 2024, £17.49
30. Best Value Rosé Wine Trophy: Terras Lusas Rosé, Vinho Regional Alentejano, Adega de Redondo 2023, £11.74
31. Rosé Karmrahyut, ArmAs 2022, £18.75
32. Xinomavro Rosé, Theopetra Estate 2023, £21.49
33. Miguel Torres Chile Andica Organic Rosé 2024, £12.99
34. Château D’Esclans Garrus 2022, £90

RED WINE

35. Red Wine Trophy: Ver Sacrum Gloria S Garnacha 2021, £31.75
36. Best Value Red Wine Trophy: Bodegas Agronavarra Perdido Tempranillo, Vino de la Tierra 3 Riberas 2023, £10.49
37. Barbaresco, Vanotu, Pelissero 2020, £87
38. Agricola Marrone Langhe DOC Nebbiolo Che Vale 2023, £24
39. Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe, Domaine de Panisse, Le Clos du Caillou 2022, £47.50
40. Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco 2022, £40
41. Atamisque Serbal Cabernet Franc 2024, £16.50
42. Doña Paula Estate Malbec, Valle de Uco 2021, £15.99
43. Clos de Lôm Isidra Crianza 2021, £25
44. Atlante Vidueño 2022, £36
45. Vina VIK 2019, £155.50
46. Chateau Purcari 1827 Rara Neagra 2022, £16.95
47. Château de Barbe Blanche Rouge, Lussac Saint Emilion 2019, £24.49
48. Domaine Claude Maréchal Pommard La Chaniere 2023, £53.50
49. Crianza, Finca Nueva 2019, £22
50. Las Ninas Ella Reserva Carmenere 2023, £15
51. Vranec, Luda Mara, Tikveš 2021, £17.99
52. Guremani Mukuzani 2021, £14.95
53. Château Tholomies Eclipse La Livinière 2020, £32
54. Château Couhins-Lurton Rouge, Pessac Leognan 2016, £55.49
55. Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Les Fortunés, Chanzy 2023, £25.75
56. Barolo, Sarmassa, Brezza 2020, £65
57. Souson, Ribeiro, Ailalá 2022, £18.25
58. Monastrell, La Purísima, Bodegas la Purísima 2023, £13.49
59. Montes Purple Angel Colchagua 2021, £78.99
60. GCM Coast, Viña Echeverría 2021, £18.75
61. Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico 2022, £19.99
62. Henschke Keyneton Euphonium 2021, £44.99
63. Zero Manipulation, Tollini Vineyard, Peterson Winery 2017, £22.49
64. Nativus Feteasca Neagra de Aversti 2022, £14.95
65. Cave de Gigondas Seigneur De Raveil 2022, £23
66. Cote Sauvage 2021, £20
67. Château Ponzac Maintenant ou Jamais, Cahors 2021, £17.91
68. Château de Pitray Les Prairies Castillon, Côtes de Bordeaux 2021, £22.99
69. Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune 2022, £22.99
70. Agricola Marrone Barolo DOCG 2021, £43
71. Preciso Primitivo Appassimento Puglia IGP 2023, £12.69
72. Baron de Ley El Coto Crianza 2021, £15.99
73. Pantocrator Edition Limitada Rioja 2015, £37.95
74. Vallisto Barbera 2022, £22.25
75. Monemvasia Winery Tsimbidi Malvasia Vin Liastos 2012, £35.99
76. Akitu A2 2020, £33
77. Steeple Vineyard Shiraz 2019, £45
78. Vinha Do Reino, A River Runs Through It, Carlos Lucas Vinhos 2021, £13.99
79. Dugladze Saperavi Reserve 2020, £24.99
80. Toscana Rosso da Uve Leggermente Appassite, Duca di Saragnano 2022, £13.99
81. Les Crus, L’Art du Vers 2022, £15.22
82. Domaine Remoriquet Bourgogne Hautes Côtes De Nuits Rouge 2023, £29.50
83. Integro Negroamaro Puglia IGP 2023, £11.99
84. Cosme Palacio Vino de Laguardia Crianza 2019, £22.49
85. Queiron Mi Lugar 2019, £27
86. Los Cardos Single Vineyard Malbec 2023, £11.49
87. Mas Blanch i Jové Saó Abrivat 2022, £22
88. Grey Garnacha Cariñena Mataro, La Roblería Vineyard 2020, £19.49
89. Jordan Cobblers Hill 2022, £44.65
90. Geografico Chianti Classico Riserva 2019, £20.49
91. Durif, Winemakers Reserve, Berton Vineyard 2021, £14.75
92. Sellas Nemea 2022, £24

FORTIFIED AND SWEET WINE

93. Fortified/Sweet Wine Trophy: Valdespino Premium Collection Palo Cortado Single Cask Macharnudo Alto 2001, £150
94. Best Value Sweet Wine Trophy: Royal Tokaji Sweet Szamorodni 2019, £21.99
95. Moscato d’Asti, Nivole, Michele Chiarlo 2023, £20.25
96. Vakakis Epogdoon Barrel 2017, £29
97. Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2021. £72
98. Butler Nephew & Co 20 Years Old Tawny Port NV, £41.55
99. Porto Poças Colheita 1996, £58
100. La Bota No 130 Manzanilla Pasada, Equipo Navazos NV, £55

All active subscribers are automatically entered

Next Prize Draw: LIVE at the Chilled Wine Festival, Saturday 1st August after 6pm

Why we are asking you to subscribe?

We have long had the idea of a community app, one that facilitates payments and engagement and this is the next step in that journey.

Deli Dividends is an add-on to our mailing list – being able to communicate with our customers is our single biggest digital asset and in the age of social media it allows us a wider reach than ever before – but this content is distributed by algorithms, and your inbox decides what is spam and what you ‘should focus on’

Deli Dividends will allow us to hand deliver our content; our offers and invites to you. Over the years we’ve grown our mailing list one customer at a time, and thanks to each and everyone of you. However, in this new era of AI the bulk email provider we use, Hubspot, prioritises engaged customers.

What does this mean? – It means that when we send bulk email, Hubspot decides who is likely to open and read it. If not enough recipients engage, then spam filters determine that the content is probably junk and it won’t get delivered to your ‘priority’ or ‘focused’ inboxes.

Therefore to minimise the chance of an email being flagged as junk by spam filters, Hubspot simply won’t send it to unengaged email addresses – you know, that old yahoo one you use when signing up to mailing lists.

A subscription to Deli Dividends, will make sure your email gets hand-delivered.

More than just a priority booking service – more of a building society.

Maybe it’s not a subscription after all, maybe it’s a way to bank a few pounds each month to pay for that bottle of wine you’ve coveted but never justified.

If every active customers on our mailing list only used Deli Dividends to purchase just one quiche a month from us and nothing more, it would quickly build significant value into the loyalty scheme.

Help us trial more new, innovative and local products

Once we have a critical mass of subscribers, we can start to roll out bigger bonuses and dividends, but remember, just like your building society account, the money you pay in, stays in until you spend it – it’s our job to tempt you to spend it, with more new innovative and local produce.

The gift that keeps on giving …

Since the Deli Dividend subscription is, in its simplest form a savings stamp, it means your dividends are your prize. As our number of subscribers grow, so the value of the prize fund can grow. At 100 subscribers we can raffle off a bottle of wine. But at 1,000 subscribers we can raffle off a whole case – every month!

To get to 1,000 subscribers we are going to have to rely on the social media algorithm to spread the word – or perhaps not – gifting ‘shares‘ in Deli Dividends might be the perfect gift, a chance to win a prize from the deli every month, and at the end of the year a cracking bottle of wine delivered to the lucky recipient.

Thanks for reading this far, hopefully there is enough here to warrant you heading over to the subscription page and signing up.

Small Change. Big Taste.

Sign up for Deli Dividends and for the price of a quiche you can get a whole lot more:

Enter: The Deli Dividend.
Here’s the deal:
Pay in £2.50 per month
Build up store credit – like tasty savings
Get entered into a monthly draw for free deli delights and money off at the till.

You’ll always get your money’s worth. And sometimes, a whole lot more.

The finer details

When you sign up, you can choose to deposit as little as £2.50 per month, up to a maximum of £10 (charged monthly)

You can redeem all or part of your balance at any time, or exchange for gift vouchers, but as your balance grows, so do your dividends. Each month we will add deli dividends into your account – it might be that you can purchase any bottle of wine under £25 for just £10, naturally you will need £10 in your dividend account to be able to redeem this offer.

Another example may be, we will run a raffle for £100 hamper. We will award you with a free ticket for each deposit of £2.50 in your account.

This month we have received two bursaries – one from Wines of Alsace and another from Rias Baixas – we have used this to support and purchase wines for various tastings – but in the future we could choose to apply the funds across the Deli Dividend subscribers and credit your account with cash.

The bonuses are endless, like all reward or loyalty cards they are designed to increase customer engagement and in return it allows us a small pool of funds to purchase new and interesting stock.

Sea Sisters is a great example; An innovative product that has caught customers attention, but it requires a small amount of investment from us to make the initial purchase and a calculated risk that we can sell the stock.

With Deli Dividends, we could offer you £2.50 off a tin to encourage you to try one.

If every active customer on our mailing list only used Deli Dividends to purchase just one quiche a month from us and nothing more, it would quickly build significant value into the loyalty scheme.

In developing Deli Dividends, we’ve looked at lots of the best high street examples from the likes of the Starbucks App, Club Card points and Air Miles. Now we need to get our first subscribers – is that you?

If you like unconventional, delicate but expressive wines with naturally lower alcohol levels and a salty or ash-like character then Tenerife is a region to take notice of.

Is the saltiness to the wine derived from proximity to the sea, or raised levels of succinic acid?

The wine anorak will argue the latter and claim the ash-like character is derived from reductive vinification whilst the creatives amongst us will site a direct link with a volcano.

One thing is certain, more research is needed to solve these long-standing questions.

Those interested in this important research should attend ilfestia at Fredricks 2nd August.

So for the creatives, Fredricks ilfestia pays homage to the volcanic origins of Diss and celebrates its natural beauty and the dramatic sunsets that have shaped the town and its distinctive mere.

The massive volcanic eruption that took place in 1600 BCE resulting in the creation of Caldera on the island of Santorini has absolutely no bearing on the geology of Diss but allows us none-the-less to celebrate the ancient myths and traditions of the volcanic islands.

The main highlight of the Ifestia Festival is the volcanic fireworks show that takes place over the Caldera creating a visual spectacle of light, colour, and sound while recreating the volcanic eruptions that built the islands.

Unfortunately we have been unable to get permission to recreate a live volcano in Norfolk House Yard but there is an excellent thread on the Diss Community Page with suggestions for future firework based activity.

So instead of explosions but still wanting to give the evening a dramatic touch, we have seafood from Sea Sisters, padron peppers, buñuelos de bacalao, calamari and the all important papas arrugadas served with mojo sauce and a wine flight of exceptional volcanic wines.

For a truly immersive experience; rather than gather around the caldera’s warm Mediterranean waters, Mere’s Mouth provides an ideal viewpoint for anyone who would like to look at some water and join this unique celebration of the volcanic islands.

If you’re planning to visit ifestia, it’s a good idea to make arrangements early, as the courtyards are particularly popular during this time.

Tickets must be purchased in advance from www.fredricksfinefoods.com/ilfestia

Firstly, find the best viewpoint. The key is to book a seat at the banquet table, but if you find the set menu has sold out. There is usually good availability for £15 general admission tickets – this give you a welcoming glass of wine on arrival and the all important papas arrugadas (Canary potatoes.)

Additionally, you may also book a Caldera cruise. A sunset cruise concluding with the sight of the Ifestia Festival fireworks from the sea. But it’s important to note: The cruise departs from Santanori so please allow plenty of time to get to the quay. Additional travel and accommodation charges will apply.

The Fredricks ifestia was envisaged whilst holidaying on the island of Tenerife, the wines we drank and the food we ate.

For a little bit more info click here