International Wine Challenge announces UK wide winners as wine industry expands beyond thesouth

Hencote Winery, Shropshire

The International Wine Challenge, the world’s most influential, impartial and rigorously judged winecompetition has announced the winners of its 2021 competition, with the medal results showing
how the UK wine map is evolving. While the south of England remains Britain’s wine heartland,
medal-winning wines are now being produced throughout the nation, extending out from theestablished south. Medals were awarded to wines in Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire andDerbyshire as well as Conwy, Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales.
With such a strong medal haul, Great Britain has once again ranked in 8th position worldwide forGold Medals. Wines from 21 counties across England and Wales were awarded medals including 12Gold, 48 Silver, 58 Bronze and 18 Commended.
Shropshire winery, Hencote, took this year’s only Gold medal for an English still wine, awarded to a
red wine - Mark I 2018, made from a blend of Pinot Noir, Précoce and Rondo grapes. In particular,
there was a notable boost for Staffordshire, which received six medals this year, including one Silver,
two Bronze and three Commended, compared with only one Commended award last year.
Kent led the medal wins for English wines with 30 medals, three of which were Gold and also tookhome the English Sparkling Trophy with The Squerryes Partnership Squerryes Blanc de Blancs
2014, which also won the English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs Trophy. The English Sparkling Classic
Blend Trophy was awarded to Squerryes Brut 2011.
In Hampshire three Gold medals went to Hattingley Valley, Raimes English Sparkling Wine andGrange Estate Wines. The latter was also awarded the English Non-Vintage Sparkling Rosé Trophyfor The Grange Hampshire Pink NV.

Roebuck Estates and Artelium in Sussex, Greyfriars Vineyard and High Clandon Estate Vineyard inSurrey and Camel Valley in Cornwall were also recipients of Gold medals. Roebuck Estates also
received the English Vintage Sparkling Rosé Trophy for its Rosé de Noirs 2016.
Oz Clarke, one of the six co-chairs for the International Wine Challenge and author of ‘English Wine’commented: ‘Over the past few decades, it’s been incredible to witness the progress Great Britain
has been making on the world stage for its wine, especially the sparkling wines from southern
England. What’s really exciting to see now however, is the quality of wines we are tasting from otherregions in the UK and the diverse styles being produced there.’International by name…
Continuing to live up to is name, this year’s competition saw over 6,800 medals awarded to winesfrom over 40 countries from Moldova to Mexico. Notable achievements include Austria beating 15
other countries, including Sauvignon Blanc producing heavyweights, New Zealand and France, to thetitle of International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy for its Sauvignon Blanc Kitzeck-Sausal Südsteiermark
2019 from Südsteiermark producer, Weingut Schneeberger. Down in the Pacific, after a five-year
reign held by Syrah from New Zealand, Australia has won the crown of International Shiraz Trophy
this year for Wolf Blass Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019 from Wolf Blass Wines. This year’s
result represents the first time in almost a decade that Australia has won this trophy.
Award-winning consumer choice at UK supermarkets
Committed to giving consumers the confidence to discover great wine from across the globe, theInternational Wine Challenge prides itself on the diversity of its entries and this year’s supermarket
medal-winners reflected this variety. A Romanian Fetasca Regalas, Uruguayan Tannat and winesfrom Moldova made it onto the supermarket podium alongside wines from more established regionsof the world.
UK supermarkets scooped multiple awards this year with 591 medals awarded overall, 430 of whichwere for own label wines. Aldi and Tesco achieved the most Gold Medals for own label wines,
bringing home two Golds each, Aldi for its Pinot Vigilante Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 andFletchers 40 Year Old Tawny Port NV and Tesco for the Tesco Finest Tingleup Riesling 2020 andTesco Finest Margaux 2015. Morrisons took home Gold for Morrisons The Best Amarone 2017 andWaitrose was awarded the only Gold medal for an own-label sherry, Waitrose & Partners Nº1 Finodel Puerto Don Luis.
Overall own label supermarket medals
Supermarket Own Label Wines Gold
SilverBronze Commended TotalMorrisons
120
46
30
97
Tesco
2
1649
25
92
Aldi
22133
1773
Marks & Spencer
0
1235
1259
Asda
0424
1240
Waitrose
1915
429
Co-op04
115
20SPAR0013
720
The full list of award-winners in the 2021 International Wine Challenge released on 17th May can beseen here. The IWC Champions 2021 winners, which are selected following a re-tasting of all trophy-

winning wines by the IWC Co-Chairs, will be revealed at the IWC 2021 Awards announcement on
Wednesday 30th June.
ENDSNOTES TO EDITORS:The International Wine Challenge
In its 38th year, the International Wine Challenge is accepted as the world’s most rigorous, impartial and influential winecompetition. The International Wine Challenge assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, regionand vintage. Awards include medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and Commended awards. Trophies are awarded to the very bestwines in each category. The International Wine Challenge is committed to helping consumers discover great wine, and themedals displayed on winning bottles offer a trusted guarantee of quality.
For more information on the IWC, please contact the IWC team at Phipps
iwc@thisisphipps.com : +44 (0) 20 7759 7400

International Wine Challenge Results 2021: Top 10 Countries ranked by Gold medal winsCountryGoldSilverBronze

CommendedFrance77419681

205

Australia

49261

294

83

Spain

38207

462

249

Portugal

26165

288

116

Italy

17166

446

242

Argentina

1487

129

39

South Africa

1357

136

79

Great Britain

12485818

Austria

1135

24

9

New Zealand

976

15154