This year Australia beat France as winner of the most trophies. Australia also took the most international trophies and triumphed in producing the greatest number of wines to be awarded two or more trophies. Portugal again did well, this year tying with Italy for third place in the number of trophies won.
Headline results are:
Most trophies by country 2007: Australia (20), France (18), Portugal and Italy (12)
Most Trophies by country 2006: France (15), Australia (12) and Portugal (9)
Wine winning most trophies – Villa Maria, Single Vineyard Graham Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Marlborough (International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy, New Zealand White Trophy, Marlborough White Trophy and Awatere Valley Trophy)
Follow on winners
Significantly, nine producers have followed their success in 2006 by picking up IWC trophies again this year. Three wines even managed to pick up the same award this year for the successive vintage.
Wines picking up the same trophies in 2007 as in 2006 (different vintage)
Château La Fleur Peyrabon (Edmund Penning-Rowsell Trophy & French Red Trophy)
Peter Lehmann Reserve Riesling (Australian Riesling Trophy)
Wine and Soul, Guru (Portuguese White Trophy)
[vintages not supplied by the IWC in this announcement]
Producers picking up the same trophies in 2007 as in 2006 (different wine)
Champagnes P & C Heidsieck (Museum Vintage Champagne Trophy & Non Vintage Champagne Trophy)
Quinta do Vallado Comercial (Douro Trophy)
Madeira Wine Company (Madeira Trophy)
Other producers picking up trophies in both years
Cantina di Soave (Italy)
Emilio Lustau (Spain)
Villa Maria (NZ)
England Sparkles
The steady rise of England as a world class wine producing nation has been recognised once more. This year, the IWC judges felt that Denbies’ Greenfields Brut 2003 merited the first ever English trophy.
Exceptional Sakes
Perhaps the most hotly contested category this year was that of the sakes. Of the 228 sake entries, 130 won medals including 10 Golds. Six trophies were awarded, with one sake picking up two of these prestigious awards.
Junmai Ginjo-shu, Junmai Daiginjo-shu Trophy & Hiroshima Trophy: Ryusei Junmai Daiginjo Black Label 2004, Fujii Shuzou Co. Ltd
Junmai-shu Trophy: Tsurunosato 2005, Kikuhime & Co. Ltd
Gingo-shu, Daiginjo-shu Trophy: Daiginjo Ohkaichirine 2006, Sakuramasamune Co Ltd
Shiga Trophy: Matsunotsukasa 2006, Matsuse Shuzo Co. Ltd
Koshu Trophy: Oigame Junenjukuseishu Genmaikoshu 1993, Ono Shuzo Co. Ltd
The full list of trophy winners can be found at the IWC website: www.internationalwinechallenge.com
