Awards season is here, and with it come the highly anticipated results from three key wine competitions: The Wine Merchant Top 100, the International Wine Challenge (IWC) and the IWSC. 46 of our producers’ wines received gold medals and trophies across these awards.
Tasmanian winery Tolpuddle Vineyard won an astonishing six trophies at the IWC. Awarded 98 points, the 2023 Chardonnay was the competition’s highest scoring wine, winning International Chardonnay, Tasmanian Chardonnay, Australian Chardonnay, and Australian White Trophies. The judges praised its “supreme elegance, offering beautifully integrated spice notes and cool fruit.” 2023 Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay, made by the same talented team, picked up the Adelaide Hills Chardonnay Trophy and was celebrated for its “classy cool climate style and vibrant palate.” These two Chardonnays epitomise all that is exciting about Australian Chardonnay, which has transformed beyond all recognition. Contradicting the outdated stereotype of oaky, ripe Chardonnay, these wines demonstrate how far Aussie Chardonnay has come, with the best wines now displaying a vibrancy and ability to age that few other countries can match. Tolpuddle also picked up two trophies for its 2023 Pinot Noir: the Australian Pinot Noir Trophy and Australian Red Trophy.
Émilien Boutillat, Chef de Caves of Piper-Heidsieck, has been shortlisted for IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year, a title he has won twice in the past. Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, “a stylish cuvée… with potential to develop”, was awarded 96 points and the Blanc de Noirs Champagne Trophy by the IWC judges. Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut (Magnum), Vintage 2014 and Vintage 2018 were awarded gold medals too. The IWC also recognised Emilien’s winemaking at Rare Champagne. The 2013 vintage was acclaimed as “a seamless blend… salty, mineral and moreish with brioche and hazelnut flavours, vivid acidity and an energetic finish”, winning an IWC gold medal and the Vintage Classic Blend Champagne Trophy. Both the 2012 and 2013 vintages won gold at the IWSC too.
Our producers won a further nine IWC trophies overall. Intensity, freshness and complexity are characteristic of Sandeman Ports and were highlighted by the judges when awarding a trophy to Sandeman 20-Year-Old Tawny. We were also delighted to see G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera 2021 recognised with the Nebbiolo Trophy. The IWC judges praised its “uncompromisingly tart structure, yet balanced and fresh with a delicacy that hides its power within”.
You can learn more about these wines and find a list of all trophy and gold medal winning wines below.
(L) Tolpuddle and Shaw + Smith winemaker Adam Wadewitz (C) Émilien Boutillat, Chef de Caves of Piper-Heidsieck (R) The Vaira family, of G.D. Vajra
International Wine Challenge
Arguably one of the most respected, globally recognised wine competitions, the International Wine Challenge is highly respected for its impartiality, with over 500 judges tasting thousands of wines blind.
International Chardonnay Trophy, Australian White Trophy, Australian Chardonnay Trophy, Tasmanian Chardonnay Trophy
Tolpuddle Vineyard, Coal River Valley Chardonnay, 2023, Australia
98 pts, Read More
Australian Red Trophy, Australian Pinot Noir Trophy
Tolpuddle Vineyard, Coal River Valley Pinot Noir, 2023, Australia
96 pts, Read More
Barossa Red Blend Trophy
Charles Melton, `The Kirche` Barossa Valley Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021, Australia
96 pts, Read More
Adelaide Hills Chardonnay Trophy
Shaw + Smith, `M3` Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, 2023, Australia
96 pts, Read More
Canadian White Trophy, Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay Trophy
Le Clos Jordanne, `Le Grand Clos` Niagara Chardonnay, 2022, Canada
95 pts, Read More
Current vintage: 2021
English Sparkling Trophy, English Blanc de Blancs Trophy
Nyetimber, Blanc de Blancs, 2016, England
97 pts, Read More
English Classic Blend Trophy
Nyetimber, `1086` Prestige Cuvée, 2013, England
96 pts, Read More
Non-Vintage Blanc de Noirs Champagne Trophy
Piper-Heidsieck, Essentiel Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, NV, France
96 pts, Read More
Vintage Classic Blend Champagne Trophy
Rare Champagne, Millésime, 2013, France
96 pts, Read More
Nebbiolo Trophy
G.D. Vajra, Barolo `Ravera`, 2021, Italy
95 pts, Read More
Vin Santo Trophy
Capezzana, Vin Santo di Carmignano, 2017, Italy
97 pts, Read More
20-Year-Old Port Trophy
Sandeman, 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, NV, Portugal
96 pts, Read More
Oloroso Trophy
Valdespino, Oloroso `Don Gonzalo` VOS, NV, Spain
96 pts, Read More
Gold Medal Winners
Piper-Heidsieck, Vintage (Magnum), 2018, France
96 pts, Read More
Trinity Hill, `125 Gimblett` Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay, 2022, New Zealand
96 pts, Read More
Current vintage: 2021
Finca Flichman, Dedicado `Tupungato Vineyard` Uco Valley Chardonnay, 2022, Argentina
95 pts, Read More
Charles Melton, `Voices of Angels` Adelaide Hills Shiraz, 2021, Australia
95 pts, Read More
Henschke, `Keyneton Euphonium`, 2021, Australia
95 pts, Read More
Dandelion Vineyards, `Lioness of McLaren Vale` Shiraz, 2023, Australia
95 pts, Read More
Current vintage: 2021
Dandelion Vineyards, `Red Queen of the Eden Valley` Shiraz, 2022, Australia
95 pts, Read More
Current vintage: 2020
Heirloom Vineyards, Barossa Shiraz, 2023, Australia
95 pts, Read More
Current vintage: 2021
Willunga 100, `Blind Spot Vineyard Moritz Block` Blewitt Springs Shiraz, 2023, Australia
95 pts, Read More
House of Arras, Grand Vintage Tasmania, 2017, Australia
95 pts, Read More
Current vintage: 2015
Inniskillin, Niagara Vidal Sparkling Icewine, 2022, Canada
95 pts, Read More
Inniskillin, Niagara Cabernet Franc Icewine, 2023, Canada
95 pts, Read More
Piper-Heidsieck, Essentiel Extra Brut (Magnum), NV, France
95 pts, Read More
Piper-Heidsieck, Vintage (Magnum), 2014, France
95 pts, Read More
Champagne Devaux, `Coeur de Nature` Organic, NV, France
95 pts, Read More
Champagne Devaux, Cuvée D, Aged 5 Years, NV, France
95 pts, Read More
Valdespino, Oloroso `Solera 1842` VOS, NV, Spain
95 pts, Read More
International Wine and Spirits Competition
Encompassing both spirits and wines, the International Wine and Spirits Competition is similarly revered for its impartiality, with the added bonus of drinks professionals tasting blind across categories.
Gold Medal Winners
Shaw + Smith, Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir, 2023, Australia
96 pts, Read More
Current vintage: 2021
Piper-Heidsieck, Essentiel Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, NV, France
96 pts, Read More
Valdespino, Oloroso `Don Gonzalo` VOS, NV, Spain
96 pts, Read More
Kaiken Ultra, Mendoza Chardonnay, 2023, Argentina
95 pts, Read More
Inniskillin, `Gold` Niagara Vidal Icewine, 2022, Canada
95 pts, Read More
Langham Wine Estate, Blanc de Blancs, NV, England
95 pts, Read More
Rare Champagne, Millésime, 2012, France
95 pts, Read More
Rare Champagne, Millésime, 2013, France
95 pts, Read More
Valdespino, Oloroso `Solera 1842` VOS, NV, Spain
95 pts, Read More
The Wine Merchant Top 100
Dedicated to wines in the independent off-trade, the Wine Merchant Top 100 is the only UK wine competition judged entirely by specialist independent wine retailers.
Best Fortified/Sweet Trophy:
Valdespino, Palo Cortado `Single Cask` Macharnudo Alto, 2001, Spain
The Top 100
Henschke, `Keyneton Euphonium`, 2021, Australia
Montes, `Purple Angel` Colchagua, 2021, Chile
Domaine Chevrot, Maranges Blanc, 2022, France
Château de Pitray, `Les Prairies` Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, 2021, France
El Coto, Rioja Crianza, 2021, Spain