The results are in for this year’s Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) competition with the major European producing countries leading the pack, but with a strong medal haul from Australia, and also high recognition for sparkling wines, including the English contingent.
As a competition, SWA reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the 70+ judges who pronounced on the wines over the two judging days, comprising as they did leading sommeliers and restaurant wine buyers from many of the best restaurants and hotels across the UK.
Judges were drawn from Hélène Darroze to Heron, by way of Noble Rot, Pine, 67 Pall Mall, Amphora, Moor Hall, Chewton Glen, Apricity, Gordon Ramsay and many other fine and Michelin-studded eateries.
Gold rush
The majority of the medals this year went to France, Italy and Spain, in that order, but with notably high success rates for smaller producing countries, including Greece, Portugal and the UK.
The country bagging the most Golds was Italy, with 37 to its name, representing 20% of its total medal haul.
France came second on the Gold front, having to console itself with winning the most medals overall.
Notable, too, was Australia, which came third in terms of total Gold medals for one country, but highest when ranked as a percentage, with 42% of wines entered achieving Gold ranking.
Overall, however, the Old World swept the board with Golds, pulling in 70% of the total, with this figure also reflected in the overall medal tally (Gold, Silver and Bronze), where again the Old World took 70% of the gongs.
Meanwhile, the split between reds and whites for medals and Golds was close on 45% each, with the remainder going to orange and rosé wines.
Five New Zealand wines were awarded a Gold medal this year:
Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2022
Matahiwi Estate Outnumbered Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Craggy Range Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels 2021
Heaphy Nelson Riesling 2023
Lake Chalice Plume Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019
For the full list of winners, click here.
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