Category: Wines of Africa

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2025 has once again affirmed its position as the most rigorous and influential benchmark of global wine quality. This year’s results highlight the remarkable diversity of viticultural excellence, with nine countries earning recognition across the most prestigious categories, including Champion titles, international trophies, and national trophies. The IWC’s methodological rigour, anchored in blind tastings conducted by panels of leading experts, ensures that these accolades represent the highest standards of international oenology and establish a critical reference point for producers, trade professionals, and consumers.

FRANCE
Burgundy and Languedoc lead the charge for France 

France once again proved why it’s the undisputed titan of the wine world, extending its winning streak with a commanding lead in this year’s competition. Its powerhouse regions – Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne – not only outshone the global field, but each region individually scored more Gold and total medals than most entire countries. With 94 Gold, 402 Silver and 379 Bronze, France reinforced its legacy as the benchmark for excellence in winemaking.

Notably, Maison Albert Bichot, the historic Beaune producer, outshone its competitors with its Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Hospices de Beaune Cuvée Cyrot Chaudron 2023, described by judges as ‘perfectly ripe’ and ‘beautiful’.The wine received the prestigious Champion Red Wine accolade, having claimed four trophies earlier this year, including the International Pinot Noir Trophy and French Red Trophy.

Maison Albert Bichot’s Technical Director Matthieu Mangenot was also named Red Winemaker of the Year, making the winery the most awarded in this year’s competition.

Languedoc estate Château Rouquette Sur Mer impressed with its ‘restrained, well-defined’ Cuvée L’Esprit Terroir 2023, which claimed three trophies, including the International Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre Trophy.

France further highlights:

• The Champagne Trophy and Vintage Champagne Trophy went to Champagne Lansonfor its Le Clos Lanson Blanc de Blanc 2010, which judges praised as ‘Champagne at its glorious best’.
• TheNon-Vintage Champagne Trophy went to Champagne Henriot for its ‘classy’ and ‘lush’ Henriot Cuve 38 – La Réserve Perpétuelle Blanc de Blancs Edition 6.
• Maison Albert Bichot picked up further wins for its Chablis Grand Cru Les Vaudésirs Domaine Long-Depaquit 2023 (Chablis Trophy)and Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes Domaine du Pavillon 2023 (French Chardonnay Trophy, French White Trophy).

SPAIN
Sherry spearheads success for Spain

Spain made a powerful statement this year, not just with bold reds but with an impressive sweep of white and fortified wines that showcased the country’s incredible diversity. Climbing to second place in the global rankings, Spain took home 32 Golds, 242 Silvers, and 202 Bronzes. Leading the charge was Jerez (Sherry) with 20 of Spain’s 34 Golds, and claimed more trophies than any other Spanish region, with six in total. Not far behind, Rioja continued to prove its pedigree, collecting five trophies of its own.

The historic Bodegas Emilio Lustau asserted itself as the uncontested powerhouse of fortified wine, winning both of the category’s Champion accolades. Its Amontillado Botaina Edicion Limitada En Rama NV was crowned Champion Fortified Wine (Manuel Lozano Trophy), with judges commending it as ‘intensely flavoured’ and ‘amazingly poised’. Earlier this year, the same Sherry triumphed with the Sherry Trophy and Amontillado Trophy.

Cellar Master Sergio Martínez also secured the highly coveted Fortified Winemaker of the Year award for the sixth time and the second year in a row.

Spain further highlights:

• The Spanish Red Trophy and the Rioja Trophy was won by Rioja Vega for its ‘really powerful’ and ‘vivid’ Con Gracia de Rioja Vega 2020.
• Pazo de La Cuestaalso picked up the Spanish Red Trophy for its Mencía 2022, which was hailed as ‘positively elegant’.

ITALY
Sweet success for Italy continues 

Italy shone this year with an array of medal-winning wines from across its many regions. From north to south, the country showcased its depth, tradition, and innovation, captivating the judges and putting it in fifth place overall. With a total of 332 medals, Italy reminded the world that its winemaking legacy is not only alive but constantly evolving.

Despite this national success, it was a sweet wine which stood out in this year’s challenge. For the second year in a row, Tuscan producer Tenuta Di Capezzana won the Champion Sweet Wine (Alois Kracher Trophy) title for its Vin Santo di Carmignano Riserva 2017 – a title won by previous vintages of the same wine in 2022, 2021, and 2019. Judges applauded the wine’s ‘intense aromas’, ‘richness’, and ‘mouthwatering acidity’.

Italy further highlights:

• The Italian Red Trophy was awarded to a wine made from the rare Schioppettino grape variety, a dark-skinned grape native to Friuli-Venezia Giulia, with Vigna Traverso taking home the prize with its Schioppettino Di Prepotto Fco 2019.
• The Italian White Trophy was awarded to La Canosa Agr. Srl for its Viridis Classico 2024, an ‘aromatic’ and ‘gorgeous’ 100% Verdicchio from the Marche region.
• Bisol 1542took home the Italian Sparkling Trophy and Prosecco Trophy for its ‘highly aromatic’ and ‘bright’ Crede Brut, Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore 2024.

SOUTH AFRICA
Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa shines

Winning 23 Gold medals, up from 15 last year, South Africa, coming in seventh place, impressed the judges with a spread of red and white wines, including Chardonnay, Semillon, Syrah, and Pinotage. The country was awarded the prestigious International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy, claiming the award from Australia, alongside 111 Silvers and 91 Bronzes.

Hailed for its ‘tight, restrained’ flavours and ‘lightly spiced finish’, Stellenbosch producer La Grand Domaine impressed judges with its Grand Vin Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, taking home two trophies, including the renowned International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy and marking the first time in five years that South Africa won an international trophy.

South Africa further highlights: 

• Boschendal Wines earned the South African Sparkling Trophy for its ‘complex, layered’ Jean Le Long Prestige Cuvee 2012.
• The STELLA 2022 from Beau Constantia, described as ‘incredibly appetizing’, took home the South African Red Trophyand South African Syrah Trophy.
• Vergelegen Estate was awarded the South African White Trophy for its ‘aromatic’ and ‘elegant’ Vergelegen Estate White 2023.

ARGENTINA
Argentina is still the powerhouse of Malbec 

Coming in eighth with 144 medals, Argentina reaffirmed its position as the world leader for Malbec, remaining the only country to have been awarded the International Malbec Trophy. The impressive accolade went to Bodega Fabre for its Phebus Gran Reserva Malbec 2023, which wowed judges with its ‘silky texture’, ‘structure’, and ‘long finish’.

Argentina further highlights:

• Huentala Wines’ La Isabel Estate Cofermented Blend 2023 picked up the Argentinian Red Trophy, being praised by judges as a ‘seamless’marriage of Malbec and Cabernet Franc.

ENGLAND
England sets new benchmark for sparkling wine 

England continued its impressive rise on the global wine stage, coming in at ninth place and setting a new benchmark for itself in 2025. With 15 Gold medals, up from 13 last year, alongside 59 Silvers and 43 Bronzes, the country’s reputation for quality and consistency is gaining serious momentum. From sparkling standouts to confident still wines, England is proving it’s no longer a newcomer, it’s a contender.

West Sussex winery Nyetimber secured a coveted spot in the top 12 with its Blanc de Blancs Magnum 2016, which was crowned Champion Sparkling Wine (Daniel Thibault Trophy), marking the first time the award has gone to a wine outside of Champagne. The achievement builds on the wine’s glittering record in this year’s challenge, having already earned a Gold medal as well as both the English Sparkling Trophy and the English Blanc de Blancs Trophy. Judges praised the bubbly as ‘a time capsule of a wine’.

Nyetimber’s Head Winemaker, Cherie Spriggs, was also named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year, becoming the only person outside of France to have won it twice.

England further highlights

• Lyme Bay took home the English Red Trophy for its ‘beautiful’ and ‘complex’ Pinot Noir 2021, as well as the English White Trophy for its Martin’s Lane Chardonnay 2020, the first time that the same producer has won both the red and the white trophy. After blind-tasting the Chardonnay, the judges at the IWC exclaimed: ‘Burgundy, eat your heart out!’

AUSTRIA
Austria impresses with Riesling 

Austria came in at 14^th this year with 55 medals, including eight Golds, but it was a Riesling which received the top recognition. Three trophies, including the International Riesling Trophy, went to Weingut Birgit Eichinger’s Riesling Ried Heiligenstein 1öTw Kamptal Dac 2023, which judges commended as a ‘fabulous example of Austrian Riesling’.

Austria further highlights

• Weingut Tschida Angerhof claimed the Austrian Sweet Trophy for its ‘remarkable’ Sämling 88 Beerenauslese 2021.

International Wine Challenge 2025: global wines judged best in show

 Chris Ashton, Director, International Wine Challenge, said, ‘This year’s competition saw a record number of medals awarded, showcasing the remarkable standard of winemaking across the globe. Achieving a Trophy is an extraordinary honour and the wines featured here truly represent the very best of the best in the world.’

The full list of Trophy and Champion winners at the 2025 International Wine Challenge can be viewed  https://www.internationalwinechallenge.com/trophy-results-2025.html