WINE REVIEW
IEWA 2025 Sparkling Trophy Winner
Another revelation this year was the Hungerhill Col Fondo. To have such a maverick wine triumph alongside a selection of brilliant Traditional Method wines makes quite a statement.
The Hungerhill Col Fondo is made from 100% Chardonnay that was fermented in a mixture of stainless steel and oak barrels, before a secondary fermentation in bottle last year.
The nose is bright and vibrant, opening with lots of fresh citrus, green apple and orchard fruit aromas, as well as a distinctive mineral edge and flares of yeasty complexity.
The palate continues in very much the same style, incredibly precise and pure with crisp green apple, citrus and a really chalky, saline freshness. It’s different and striking, and ultimately an expression of English Chardonnay that I hadn’t tasted before this bottle.
