10 Best Wines in the World as judged at the International Wine Challenge 2021

Chris Hatcher & Steven Frost from Wolf Blass Wines

The International Wine Challenge, the world’s most influential, impartial and rigorously judged winecompetition, has announced the 10 highest scoring wines from its 2021 competition.
Winners from eight countries were named the top wines of the competition, having proventhemselves to be the absolute finest in their categories following multiple stages of intensive blindtastings by a panel of leading global experts from across the industry. Five of these outstandingwines have been awarded the ultimate accolade of Champion, which is given to wines that areconsidered the absolute 'best in show', beating all other National Trophy winners in the categoriesof red, white, sparkling, sweet and fortified.
10 Best Wines in the World as judged by the International Wine Challenge 2021:

FranceClos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Cyrot Chaudron
Hospices de Beaune 2019, Maison Albert Bichot

FranceVintage 2008, Piper-Heidsieck

GreeceSigalas Santorini Barrel 2020, Domaine Sigalas
Vinsanto di Carmignano Capezzana Riserva 2013,Tenuta Di Capezzana

Italy

IWC Champion Red Wine 2021,International Pinot Noir Trophy, French
Red Trophy, Red Burgundy Trophy
IWC Champion Sparkling Wine 2021,
Champagne Trophy, Vintage Classic
Blend Champagne Trophy
IWC Champion White Wine 2021,
Greek White Trophy
IWC Champion Sweet Wine 2021,
Italian Sweet TrophyLustau Palo Cortado V.O.R.S 30 Years, Emilio Lustau
Wolf Blass Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019,
Wolf Blass Wines
Sauvignon Blanc Kitzeck-Sausal Südsteiermark
2019, Weingut Schneeberger

IWC Champion Fortified Wine 2021,
Sherry Trophy, Palo Cortado Trophy
International Shiraz Trophy, McLaren
Vale Shiraz Trophy
International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy,Austrian Sauvignon Blanc Trophy

Germany

Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru Domaine duPavillon 2019, Maison Albert Bichot
Erbacher Siegelsberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs
2015, Weingut Schloss Reinhartshausen

IWC Organic Trophy 2021, International
Chardonnay Trophy, French WhiteTrophy, White Burgundy Trophy
International Riesling Trophy, German
White Trophy

New
Zealand

Valli Pinot Noir Gibbston Vineyard 2019, ValliVineyards

IWC Sustainable Trophy 2021, New
Zealand Red Trophy, Central Otago
Pinot Noir Trophy

SpainAustralia
AustriaFrance

For the first time in the history of the International Wine Challenge, a Greek producer, Domaine
Sigalas, was awarded the 2021 Champion White Wine for Sigalas Santorini Barrel 2020, its wine
made from the indigenous grape variety Assyrtiko, with judges describing it as ‘supremely wellbalanced and characterful.’
A Shiraz from McLaren Vale has beaten examples from across Australia and Syrah from around theworld to be awarded International Shiraz Trophy, securing its place in the 10 best wines of theInternational Wine Challenge 2021. Wolf Blass Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019 from Wolf
Blass Wines impressed the judges with its ‘ripe, fleshy, generous and delicious fruit’. This year’s
result represents the first time in almost a decade that Australia has won this trophy. The skill of theWolf Blass team was left in no doubt in this year’s competition as winemakers Chris Hatcher &Steven Frost also won IWC Red Winemaker of the Year, the fourth time they have been recipients ofthis internationally acclaimed accolade.
This builds on the wider success of Australian winemakers in this year’s awards in which South
Australia scooped multiple trophies including the Australian White Trophy for Penfolds Reserve Bin
A Chardonnay 2019, the Australian Red Trophy for Kilikanoon Wines Baudinet 2019, as well as theAustralian Riesling Trophy for Gatt High Eden Riesling 2016. Further cementing its reputation as aglobally recognised producer of premium wines, Tasmania was awarded the Australian Sparkling
Trophy in this year’s competition for Arras E.J Carr Late Disgorged Vintage 2005 from House ofArras.
Neighbouring New Zealand secured its place in the 10 best wines of the International Wine
Challenge 2021 with the Valli Pinot Noir Gibbston Vineyard 2019 from Central Otago claiming theIWC Sustainable Trophy. Judged against all other red wines in New Zealand, it was also declared
New Zealand Red Trophy winner for 2021, with the judges thrilled ‘to taste a Gibbston Pinot in fullflow’.
New Zealand saw success in the wider competition with a Chardonnay from Hawke’s Bay, whichbeat white wines from across the country to be awarded the New Zealand White Trophy. Church
Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2019 impressed the judges with its ‘really pure fruit flavours withsophisticated balance’ and was described as ‘a perfectly formed Chardonnay’.

Co-Chair Tim Atkin MW commented: ‘With wines from over 50 countries entered into the IWC andeach wine judged purely on its merit, it’s impossible to predict which wines will come out on top inany given year, which is what makes the competition so exciting. It’s great to see lesser-known wines
such as the Austrian Sauvignon Blanc and an Assyrtiko from Greece standing alongside more familiarnames in this year’s top 10 scoring wines.’
The full list of Trophy and Champion award winners at the 2021 International Wine Challenge
released on 30th June can be found here.
ENDS--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOTES 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, region
and 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