Discovering Margaret River

When the IWSC travelled to Margaret River in 2023, one of the judges was Melania Battiston, Wine Director at Michelin-starred Cornus in London. The experience not only deepened her understanding of the region but also shaped the Western Australian section of her wine list.  

Melania shared, that spending time in Margaret River gave her a deeper understanding of the terroir, the wine styles and the region’s distinctive identity.

"Thanks to the IWSC Judging in Margaret River, I had the opportunity to build up a really good Western Australian selection," she explains. "The judging gave me unparalleled insight into the region, which I had limited exposure to before."

Among the producers that made a lasting impression were McHenry Hohnen, Stella Bella and Cherubino.

"I felt really privileged to be able to bring some of the IWSC gold and silver medal-winning wines onto the Cornus wine list," says Melania. "Our guests have been really impressed by the value for money because they can find that balance between being quite Burgundian in style, but with a character that is very unique to Margaret River."

From IWSC medals to UK visibility

Among the producers recognised during the IWSC judging in Margaret River was McHenry Hohnen, one of the region's leading family-owned wineries.

Known for its commitment to sustainable viticulture and minimal-intervention winemaking, the winery has built a strong reputation for producing wines that express Margaret River's distinctive maritime climate. As the business continued to expand its international presence, the IWSC Judging in Margaret River provided a unique opportunity to showcase the wines to influential buyers and decision-makers from key export markets.

Head Winemaker Jacopo Dalli Cani shared, that the IWSC medals brought valuable international recognition at a time when the winery was growing its footprint in the United Kingdom.

"It's amazing that our wines were so well received by the IWSC judges and that this has led to listings at high-profile venues such as Cornus in London," he says.

The winery has also recently strengthened its UK presence through a new partnership with Enotria, one of the country's leading wine importers.

"The awards from the IWSC will definitely assist with promoting our wines in the UK," says Jacopo.

Why Global Judging matters

The success of Margaret River producers highlights the wider value of the IWSC Global Judging programme.

Rather than judging wines in isolation, the IWSC Global Judging allows influential buyers, sommeliers and decision-makers to immerse themselves in a region, meet producers face-to-face and understand the context behind the wines they are assessing.

For producers, it provides a unique opportunity to showcase their wines directly to people with genuine buying influence.

"I would encourage every producer and every region to collaborate with the IWSC to bring judges who have buying influence," says Melania Battiston. "They can become ambassadors of your region through wine lists, social media and their professional network, helping increase awareness and visibility for producers."

This visibility can be particularly valuable in competitive export markets such as the UK, where personal relationships, trust and independent endorsement all play an important role in purchasing decisions.