The trophy winners in this year’s International Wine Challenge have just been announced and can be found in full here (though you may need a magnifying glass).
These 90 wines, on which 114 trophies were lavished, have been selected from the 267 gold-medal-winning wines. Most of these wines were awarded a single trophy but some of the favourites of the judging panel of IWC chairs Tim Atkin MW, Charles Metcalfe with Sam Harrop MW and Derek Smedley MW were given a host of awards. The three wines listed below managed to pick up no fewer than four trophies apiece.
Majella Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Coonawarra
International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy, Australian Red Trophy, South Australian Red Trophy & Coonawarra Trophy
Maison Auvigue, Vielles Vignes 2006 Pouilly-Fuissé
International Chardonnay Trophy, French White Trophy, White Burgundy Trophy & Pouilly-Fuissé Trophy
Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 Central Otago
International Pinot Noir Trophy, New Zealand Red Trophy, NZ Pinot Noir Trophy & Central Otago Pinot Noir Trophy
France regained the crown for most trophies, which Australia had narrowly snatched from it last year, whilst Portugal notched up the third highest tally of trophies for a third year running. Argentina recorded its best record to date with six trophies, beating Chile's very respectable five, among them the international trophies for Cabernet Franc and Tannat. Trophy winning wines came from 16 different countries:
Trophies by country 2008: France (19), Australia (18), Portugal (12), Italy (10), Spain (8), Japan (8 for sake).
Six producers were given two trophies and one picked up three:
Bodegas y Viñedos Hugo y Eduardo Pulenta
Pulenta Gran Cabernet Franc 2005 (International Cabernet Franc Trophy)
Pulenta Gran Malbec 2006 (International Malbec Trophy & Mendoza Trophy).
Having won the UK’s only gold medal, Hush Heath's Balfour Brut Rosé 2004 also won the English wine trophy – not bad for a debut vintage. I liked it too.
