(left) Natalie Christensen, IWC White Winemaker of the Year, (right) Emilien Bouillat, IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year

International Wine Challenge 2023 names wines and winemakers of the year
The International Wine Challenge, the world’s most influential, impartial, and rigorously judged
global wine competition, has announced the highest scoring wines of its 2023 competition alongwith its five Winemakers of the Year in the categories of red, white, sparkling, sweet and fortified.
Following a series of intensive blind tastings by an international panel of experts, wines from ninecountries earnt themselves a spot on the coveted list, which is comprised of International Trophy
winners (wines named the best example of that variety) as well as the competition’s five Championwines (the ultimate accolade reserved for those wines deemed the absolute finest in their category).

France claims three Champion awards
France was the top performing country in this year’s challenge, taking home more medals than any
other nation as well as three of the five prestigious Champion awards.
--

Edouard Delaunay’s Chambertin Grand Cru Rouge 2020 beat wines from over 50 countries
to be named Champion Red Wine, adding to the four trophies already under its belt.
Having made headlines as the first Vin Jaune to win the French White Trophy, Michel Tissot& Fils’ Château-Chalon Vin Jaune 2015 went on to claim Champion White Wine too – a firstfor the Jura region.
Rare Champagne’s Emilien Boutillat was named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year, anaccolade he also claimed in 2021. Impressing judges with its “intoxicating and alluring nose,featuring aromas of fresh baked pastry, apple crumble and Sorrento lemons,” his RareMillésime 2008 was named Champion Sparkling Wine.

Germany awarded Champion Sweet Wine
This year, Germany has proven its prowess in the production of its sweet wines.
-Weingut Hans Wirsching took home the Champion Sweet Wine for its “incredible high-wirewine” Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2021.

-The Franken producer also took home a total of 14 medals in the 2023 competition as well as
the German White Trophy for its Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling 2021, making it the only
producer in Germany to win a trophy in this year’s challenge.

Sherry stands out in Spain
Spain’s reputation for world-class fortified wine was left in no doubt in this year’s challenge.
-For the first time, Bodegas Fernando De Castilla claimed Champion Fortified Wine with its
Oloroso Singular.
Elsewhere in Jerez-Sherry, Marcos Alguacil from Bodegas Osborne was named Fortified
Winemaker of the Year, having received 12 medals as well as the Amontillado Trophy for his“exceptional” Amontillado en Rama La Honda which judges described as having “beguilingaromas of grilled nuts with pistachios and chocolate-covered hazelnuts.”

Argentinian Malbec named as world’s best
Argentina’s reputation for world-class Malbec was left in no doubt as the nation reclaimed theInternational Malbec Trophy, which it last won in 2018, the last time this trophy was awarded.
--This title went to Huentala Wines for its “incredibly vibrant and intense” Huentala Calizo
Carmin Block 3 2020 which also won the Argentinian Red Trophy and the Mendoza Malbec
Trophy.
It was also an Argentinian Malbec which reclaimed the IWC Fairtrade Award from South
Africa. Mendoza producer Bodega Argento claimed this accolade with its Artesano deArgento Organic Fairtrade Malbec 2021, which judges described as “aromatic with rose
petals and cooked fruit.”

Australian success for fortified wine and Cabernet Sauvignon
It was another stellar year for Australia winning awards for fortified wine and Cabernet Sauvignon.

-Riddoch The Pastoralist Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 by Paragon Wine Estates
claimed the International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy, which judges described as having“wonderful herbal cassis fruit” and “varietal typicity.”-

Victoria’s Morris Wines took home the IWC Award for Consistency over 5 years, having won
six Gold Medals and three trophies this year for its fortified wines, including the Australian
Fortified Trophy which went to its Old Premium Rare Muscat and the Australian Tawny
Trophy for its Old Premium Rare Tawny.

Austrian Sauvignon Blanc takes the top spot
Austria saw huge success this year with wins for Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Sweet Winemaker ofthe Year.
--Weingut Schneeberger won the International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy for a second year
having previously won it in 2021. This year, it was the Sauvignon Blanc Kittenberg
Südsteiermark 2021 that took the top spot.
Winzer Krems Eg took home the International Riesling Trophy for its Kremser Kreuzberg
Riesling Kremstal Dac Reserve 2021 which judges described as “complex and concentrated
with saffron, white flowers and mouth-watering acidity.”-

There was further success for Burgenland winemaker Hans Tschida from Angerhof Tschida,
who won Sweet Winemaker of the Year for the third year in a row. This is the ninth time hehas won this award since 2010, reaffirming his exceptional winemaking abilities.

New Zealand’s Natalie Christensen named IWC’s White Winemaker of theYear-Natalie Christensen, chief winemaker at Yealands Wine Group, has been awarded theprestigious title of IWC White Winemaker of the Year. Yealands Wine Group produced aspectacular set of results in this year’s challenge, claiming 12 medals as well as the New
Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Trophy for its Yealands Estate Single Block S1 Sauvignon Blanc
2022.

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

-The Organic Trophy, for best certified organic wine in show, went to Greystone Wines in
Waipara for its Greystone Chardonnay 2021

Victory for South African Chardonnay
In this year’s challenge, Paul Cluver Wines proved that South African Chardonnay can stand up toother winemaking heavyweights and previous winners, France, New Zealand and Australia.
-Paul Cluver Wines took home the International Chardonnay Trophy for its Seven Flags
Chardonnay 2021. This wine was also awarded the South African White Trophy and the IWC
Sustainable Trophy 2023 in recognition of the winery’s eco-friendly farming and winemaking
practices. The Elgin producer took home medals for a further six wines.

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 for the firsttime.
-This title went to Rafael Urrejola, chief winemaker at Viña Undurraga, which was also theonly Chilean producer to win a trophy in this year’s challenge. In total, the Maipo Valley
winery claimed twelve medals as well as all three of the country’s regional trophies plus theChilean Red Trophy. This went to its T.H. Carignan Maule 2021 which judges described as“fabulously fruity with plums, bramble fruit, forest and mulberries.”

English producer wins newcomer award
English wine producer Lympstone Manor Estate won the highly coveted trophy for Best Wine in FirstYear of Production for it's Triassic Pinot Noir 2020, proving that England can take on the rest of theworld when it comes to red wine production.

Wines judged “best in show” at the International Wine Challenge 2023:

France

Rare Champagne Millésime 2008

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

FranceEdouard Delaunay ChambertinGrand 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 Kracher
Trophy, German Sweet Trophy

Spain

Bodegas 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 RedTrophy, Mendoza Malbec Trophy

Australia

Paragon 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 2021International 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

International Chardonnay Trophy, IWC
Sustainable Trophy, South African White Trophy

England

Lympstone Manor Estate Triassic
Pinot Noir 2020

Best Wine in First Year of Production, English RedTrophy

IWC Winemakers of the Year 2023:
FranceChile
New ZealandAustria

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

Emilien Boutillat, Rare Champagne
Rafael Urrejola, Viña Undurraga
Natalie Christensen, Yealands Wine Group
Hans Tschida, Angerhof TschidaSpainFortified Winemaker of the Year

Marcos Alguacil, Bodegas Osborne

The full list of Trophy and Champion award winners at the 2023 International Wine Challenge
released on 4th July can be found here.
ENDS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOTES TO EDITORS:
In its 39th year, the International Wine Challenge is widely acknowledged as the world’s mostrigorous, impartial, influential and global wine competition. The IWC assesses every wine ‘blind’ andjudges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Awards include medals (Gold, Silver,Bronze) and Commended awards. Trophies are awarded to the very best wines in each category. TheInternational Wine Challenge is committed to helping consumers discover great wine, and themedals 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 3968 2455