France retains status as global leader in International Wine Challenge
Burgundy crowned international trailblazer and smaller regions flourish
France maintained its position as the leading producer of fine wines at this year’s International Wine
Challenge, the world’s most rigorously judged wine competition.
French winemakers were awarded 102 Gold, 480 Silver and 637 Bronze medals, reinforcing its
formidable reputation on the global wine stage.
France finished well ahead of nearest rivals Australia (67 Gold, 319 Silver, and 359 Bronze medals),
Spain (53, 209, 347), Portugal (46, 160, 280), and Italy (28, 235, 375). In total, 49 countries enteredwines in this year’s competition, judged by 400 experts from 38 countries.
Burgundy
Burgundy cemented its status as an internationally recognised gold standard for Chardonnay andPinot Noir by bringing home both International Trophies for the two grape varieties. The Clos deVougeot Grand Cru from Chateau de Santenay was awarded the International Pinot Noir Trophy,
while Christian Moreau’s Chablis Grand Cru les Clos brought home the International Chardonnay
Trophy.
On a regional level, Burgundy came out top, with 37 Gold, 121 Silver and 112 Bronze medals. Thecelebrated region picked up 22 Gold medals for white wines and 15 for red. Chablis producer
William Fèvre was once more the star performer – with reigning IWC White Winemaker of the Year2018 Didier Séguier scoring eight Gold, 13 Silver and four Bronze medals.
Newly revived estate Edouard Delaunay’s Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2017 was awarded 97
points, and was one of the highest scoring wines from Burgundy. The other high scorers with 97/100
points were:••••

Domaine Christian Moreau Chablis Grand Cru les Clos 2017
Château de Santenay Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2017
Jean Claude Boisset Clos de la Roche 2017
William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir 2016Champagne
Champagne came a close second with 36 Golds, 96 Silvers and 80 Bronzes.
Charles Heidsieck, Piper-Heidsieck and Rare Champagne, belonging to parent company EPI, secured
eight Gold medals between them:• Charles Heidsieck:o Brut Millésimé 2006
o Brut Réserve NV
o Rosé Réserve NV
o Blanc de Blancs NV• Piper-Heidsiecko Essentiel-Cuvée Réservée NV

o Essentiel Blanc de Blancs NV• Rare Champagneo Rare Millésime 2006o Rare Rosé Millésime 2008The highest scoring Champagnes with 97/100 points were: Moët & Chandon MCIII NV andChampagne Rare Millésime 2006.

Rhone
The Rhône region also shone, securing 6 Gold, 40 Silver and 62 Bronze medals, with two Golds going
to Château Fortia and one each to Les Terriens, Jean-Luc Colombo, Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes andJean-Michel Cazes.
Although red wines dominated, with Châteauneuf-du-Pape as the top sub-region, the highest
scoring wine – with 96/100 – was a Viognier: Les Terriens Condrieu 2017.
AlsaceAlsace took home 6 Gold medals, alongside 36 Silvers and 49 Bronzes, with Riesling as the region’stop grape.
The other top regions, in descending order:•••••••

Languedoc Roussillon
BordeauxBeaujolais
South WestLoireProvence
Corsica

Languedoc Roussillon had one of the highest scoring wines in the competition; SPH Gerard
Bertrand’s red blend Château L'Hospitalet Grand Vin La Clape 2017 scored 97/100 points.
Oz Clarke, IWC co-chair, commented: “I was absolutely thrilled by the way that the lesser-known
regions of France made such a contribution this year. And I was equally delighted to see great but
underrated regions like Beaujolais enthusiastically on the comeback trail. France is determinedly
setting out to reclaim its crown as the world's most exciting wine producer.”th