I’m always enthusiastic to see what the ‘other sparkling’ category can throw into the mix but it’s not the most-anticipated category by judges. Why? Because anything goes: except in the case of the Spanish cava, no rule book exists in this category.

This is when the winemaking gloves come off and the end result isn’t always a winner. It’s the wine equivalent of a brainstorming session in which ‘there are no bad ideas’. While people can roll their eyes at that sentiment, the seeds of fantastic end products can, and do, come from less-than-inspired ideas. So, in an attempt to flip the script on this category, I see these wines as the tiny acorns from which great oaks can grow.

As you can see, there were no wines deemed outstanding or excellent but there are some very good examples to enjoy that offer fantastic value for money.