As the Sommelier Wine Awards' news scribe, I recently asked some of the UK's leading sommeliers to share their views on New World wines. Here is what they had to say...

South Africa is the country to watch for Olivier Marie, head sommelier at the Coq d’Argent. He praises the cool climate districts and wards from South Africa, such as Elgin, Elim and Walker Bay. He is joined in his views by Gordon Ramsay’s head sommelier Arnaud Bardary, who is impressed by the different styles South African winemakers are producing. “I am very impressed with chardonnay in the Robertson area,” says Bardary. “The south coast is now rich in remarkable wineries and I also like the way the country is organising itself. It has changed a lot in the last decade with new areas emerging and the best wineries leading the way in identifying and delimiting the very best pockets.”