Interna onal Wine Challenge 2023 names wines and winemakers of the year

Interna onal Wine Challenge White Winemaker of the year, Natalie Christensen

The Interna onal Wine Challenge, the world’s most inﬂuen al, impar al, and rigorously judged
global wine compe on, has announced the highest scoring wines of its 2023 compe on alongwith its ﬁve Winemakers of the Year.
Following a series of intensive blind tas ngs by an interna onal panel of experts, wines from ninecountries earnt themselves a spot on the coveted list, which is comprised of Interna onal Trophywinners (wines named the best example of that variety) as well as the compe on’s ﬁve Championwines (the ul mate accolade reserved for those wines deemed the absolute ﬁnest in their category).

New Zealand’s Natalie Christensen named IWC’s White Winemaker of theYear-Natalie Christensen, chief winemaker at Yealands Wine Group, has been awarded thepres gious tle of IWC White Winemaker of the Year. Yealands Wine Group also won 12
medals as well as the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Trophy for its Yealands Estate Single
Block S1 Sauvignon Blanc 2022.

-Marlborough producer Giesen Group also shone, achieving 20 medals as well as theInterna onal Syrah Trophy for its Giesen Single Vineyard Clayvin Syrah 2021.

-The Organic Trophy went to Greystone Wines in Waipara for its Greystone Chardonnay 2021

Chile claims Red Winemaker of the Year for the first timeAn impressive ﬁrst came for Chile, which claimed the Red Winemaker of the Year award.
-This tle went to Rafael Urrejola, chief winemaker at Viña Undurraga. In total, the Maipo
Valley winery claimed twelve medals as well as all three of the country’s regional trophies
plus the Chilean Red Trophy. This went to its T.H. Carignan Maule 2021 which judges
described as “Fruity with plums, bramble fruit, forest and mulberries.”

Argen nian Malbec named as world’s best
Argen na’s reputa on for world-class Malbec was le in no doubt as the na on reclaimed theInterna onal Malbec Trophy, which it last won in 2018.
--This tle went to Huentala Wines for its “incredibly vibrant and intense” Huentala Calizo
Carmin Block 3 2020 which also won the Argen nian Red Trophy and the Mendoza Malbec
Trophy.
Argen nian producer Bodega Argento won the IWC Fairtrade Award with Artesano deArgento Organic Fairtrade Malbec 2021, which judges described as “aroma c with rose
petals and cooked fruit.”

IWC Co-Chair Helen McGinn commented: “It’s wonderful to see the Red Winemaker of the Year go
to a Chilean producer for the ﬁrst me. Viña Undurraga had a spectacular year and bea ng all otherna ons to claim this pres gious tle proves that Rafael’s excep onal talent can stand up to theexper se of Old World producers.”
Wines judged “best in show” at the Interna onal Wine Challenge 2023:
FranceRare Champagne Millésime 2008

IWC Champion Sparkling Wine 2023 - Daniel
Thibault Trophy, Champagne Trophy, Vintage
Classic Blend Champagne Trophy

FranceEdouard Delaunay Chambertin
Grand Cru Rouge 2020

IWC Champion Red Wine 2023, International
Pinot Noir Trophy, French Red Trophy, Chambertin
Trophy, Burgundy Red Trophy

FranceMichel Tissot & Fils ChâteauChalon Vin Jaune 2015

IWC Champion White Wine 2023, French WhiteTrophy, Jura White Trophy

Germany

Weingut Hans Wirsching Iphöfer
Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling
Trockenbeerenauslese 2021

IWC Champion Sweet Wine 2023 - Alois KracherTrophy, German Sweet Trophy

SpainBodegas Fernando De Castilla
Oloroso Singular

IWC Champion Fortified Wine 2023 - ManuelLozano Trophy, Sherry Trophy, Oloroso Trophy

Argentina

Huentala Calizo Carmin Block 32020

International Malbec Trophy, Argentinian Red
Trophy, Mendoza Malbec Trophy

AustraliaParagon Wine Estates Riddoch
The Pastoralist Coonawarra
Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy,
Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy

Austria

Winzer Krems Eg Kremser
Kreuzberg Riesling Kremstal Dac
Reserve 2021

International Riesling Trophy, Austrian White
Trophy, Austrian Riesling Trophy

Austria

Weingut Schneeberger Sauvignon
Blanc Kittenberg Südsteiermark
2021

International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy, Austrian
Sauvignon Blanc Trophy

New Zealand

Giesen Single Vineyard Clayvin
Syrah 2021

International Syrah Trophy, New Zealand RedTrophy, New Zealand Syrah Trophy

New Zealand

Greystone Wines, Greystone
Chardonnay 2021

Organic Trophy, New Zealand White Trophy, NewZealand Chardonnay Trophy

South Africa

Paul Cluver Seven Flags
Chardonnay 2021

Sustainable Trophy, International Chardonnay
Trophy, South African White Trophy

England

Lympstone Manor Estate Triassic
Pinot Noir 2020

Best Wine in First Year of Produc on, English Red
TrophyIWC Winemakers of the Year 2023:
FranceChile
New ZealandAustriaSpain

Sparkling Winemaker of the Year
Red Winemaker of the Year
White Winemaker of the Year
Sweet Winemaker of the Year
Fortified Winemaker of the Year

Emilien Boutillat, Rare Champagne
Rafael Urrejola, Viña Undurraga
Natalie Christensen, Yealands Wine Group
Hans Tschida, Angerhof Tschida
Marcos Alguacil, Bodegas Osborne

The full list of Trophy and Champion award winners at the 2023 Interna onal Wine Challenge
released on 4th July can be found here.
ENDS-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOTES TO EDITORS:
In its 39th year, the Interna onal Wine Challenge is widely acknowledged as the world’s most rigorous,
impar al, inﬂuen al and global wine compe on. The IWC assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges eachfor its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Awards include medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) andCommended awards. Trophies are awarded to the very best wines in each category. The Interna onal
Wine Challenge is commi ed to helping consumers discover great wine, and the medals oﬀer a trusted
guarantee of quality.

For more informa on on the IWC, please contact the IWC team at Phipps
iwc@thisisphipps.com : +44 (0) 20 3968 2455