IWSC 2026 Wine Judging in Turkey: results
Amphora-aged Grenache, vibrant indigenous reds and precision-made rosés emerged among the standout performers at the IWSC Wine Judging in Turkey, as producers demonstrated an increasingly confident approach to both international and native grape varieties.
Held in partnership with the Tuğrul Şavkay Turkish Wines Competition, the fourth edition of the IWSC's Judging in Turkey brought together an expert panel led by Master Sommelier Isa Bal MS, alongside Sunny Hodge, Emma Robinson and David Kermode. Across two days of judging, the panel awarded 11 gold, as well as more than 60 silver and over 50 bronze medals, recognising wines that reflected both Turkey's unique viticultural heritage and its evolving winemaking style.
While Turkey's rich diversity of native grapes once again impressed the judges, one of the most striking stories to emerge from the results was the success of amphora-aged wines.
Leading the charge were two Grenache wines from V'Asbos Estate Iconic Grenache Edition 2 NV and Expression Grenache Edition 2 NV. Both wines impressed the judges with their combination of vibrant fruit, supple texture and freshness.
The Iconic Grenache Edition 2 NV displayed aromas of bramble, red berry fruit and cracked black pepper, leading to a plush palate with fine tannins and a long finish. From the same producer, Expression Grenache Edition 2 NV, offered layers of redcurrant, cherry and wild strawberry, balanced by juicy acidity and elegant structure.
Their success reflected comments made during judging, where the panel repeatedly highlighted the quality of amphora-made Grenache.
"Amphora is a tricky vessel, so there was real winemaking skill to make the most of these vessels, achieving a beautiful pillowy texture," said Broadcaster and Journalist David Kermode.
Wine Buyer Emma Robinson also singled out the wines for their gentle tannins, soft red fruit profile and commercial appeal, noting that they were high-quality examples of a style that resonates strongly with contemporary consumers.
The third amphora aged gold medal winner came from one of Turkey's best known indigenous varieties. Kavaklıdere's Château Serie Côtes d'Avanos Kalecik Karası Amfora 2024 showcased lifted cherry and berry fruit, refreshing acidity and soft, chalky tannins, demonstrating how traditional vessels can complement native grapes as effectively as international varieties.
Taken together, the three wines provided compelling evidence of a broader stylistic shift that judges observed throughout the competition: a move away from extraction and oak dominance in favour of texture, balance and fruit expression.
Öküzgözü delivered one of the strongest performances through Kavaklıdere Saraplari's Prestige Öküzgözü 2022, which earned a gold medal for its vibrant profile of blueberry, blackcurrant and morello cherry, supported by crunchy tannins and bright acidity.
Founder and Director of Diogenes the Dog Wine Bar, Sunny Hodge, praised the variety's versatility during judging.
"The single varietal Öküzgözü performed marvellously, showing a huge spectrum of styles but also working well with oak, displaying great balance of fruit and winemaking complexity."
Boğazkere also demonstrated its potential to produce structured and ageworthy wines. Eos Tarım's Perdix Boğazkere 2020 was awarded Gold after impressing judges with concentrated blackberry and blueberry fruit, supple tannins and savoury complexity.
The indigenous category also highlighted the diversity found across Turkey's vineyards. Antioche Barburi 2024 from Üniversal Tekstil received a Gold medal thanks to its concentrated black cherry and bramble fruit, vibrant acidity and long finish, offering a distinctive expression of a lesser-known native variety.
The results reinforced a point repeatedly made by the judging panel: Turkey's indigenous grapes remain one of its greatest assets on the international stage.
Kalecik Karası and Çalkarası both attracted praise from judges for producing vibrant, approachable wines that align closely with current consumer preferences.
Kuzubağ's Çalkarası 2025 secured a gold medal with its bright redcurrant and cranberry fruit, juicy acidity and soft tannins. Meanwhile, the gold-winning Château Serie Côtes d'Avanos Kalecik Karası Amfora 2024 highlighted the freshness and elegance that the variety can achieve.
"Turkey is blessed with red grapes that produce vibrant, lithe and fruity wines, perfect for a light chill, and therefore perfectly on trend," said David Kermode.
The rosé category also impressed. Kavaklıdere's Egeo Roze 2025 was awarded Gold after showcasing lively red berry and sour cherry fruit alongside ripe nectarine notes and crisp acidity.
Isa Bal MS was particularly encouraged by the development of lighter-skinned indigenous varieties and the growing quality of rosé production, noting the opportunities these styles offer for Turkish wine in export markets.
Likya Wines secured two gold medals, with Vineyards Malbec 2024 impressing judges through its combination of wild blackberry fruit, herbal complexity and plush tannins. The producer's Winery Collection Cabernet Franc 2025 also stood out, displaying vibrant berry fruit, fresh acidity and impressive balance.
Bordeaux varieties performed strongly as well. Doluca's Tanit Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2021 earned Gold for its harmonious blend of ripe black fruit, savoury complexity and subtle oak influence.
The judges also highlighted the quality of Sauvignon Blanc across the competition, praising the category's freshness, precision and varietal character.
"I am impressed by the quality and consistency of Sauvignon Blanc from Turkey, which achieves a beautiful brightness whilst retaining the vital freshness," said David Kermode.
Whether through the success of amphora-aged Grenache, the versatility of Öküzgözü, the growing appeal of lighter native reds or the consistency of international varieties, this year's results revealed a wine industry increasingly confident in its identity.
The 2025 IWSC Wine Judging in Turkey demonstrated that producers are not only refining their winemaking approach, but are also finding compelling ways to showcase the country's remarkable diversity of grapes and styles. See the full list of medal winners here.
Held in partnership with the Tuğrul Şavkay Turkish Wines Competition, the fourth edition of the IWSC's Judging in Turkey brought together an expert panel led by Master Sommelier Isa Bal MS, alongside Sunny Hodge, Emma Robinson and David Kermode. Across two days of judging, the panel awarded 11 gold, as well as more than 60 silver and over 50 bronze medals, recognising wines that reflected both Turkey's unique viticultural heritage and its evolving winemaking style.
While Turkey's rich diversity of native grapes once again impressed the judges, one of the most striking stories to emerge from the results was the success of amphora-aged wines.
Amphora proves its worth
Amphora remains a relatively niche winemaking vessel, but its impact was impossible to ignore during this year's judging. Three amphora-aged wines earned Gold medals, spanning both international and indigenous varieties.Leading the charge were two Grenache wines from V'Asbos Estate Iconic Grenache Edition 2 NV and Expression Grenache Edition 2 NV. Both wines impressed the judges with their combination of vibrant fruit, supple texture and freshness.
The Iconic Grenache Edition 2 NV displayed aromas of bramble, red berry fruit and cracked black pepper, leading to a plush palate with fine tannins and a long finish. From the same producer, Expression Grenache Edition 2 NV, offered layers of redcurrant, cherry and wild strawberry, balanced by juicy acidity and elegant structure.
Their success reflected comments made during judging, where the panel repeatedly highlighted the quality of amphora-made Grenache.
"Amphora is a tricky vessel, so there was real winemaking skill to make the most of these vessels, achieving a beautiful pillowy texture," said Broadcaster and Journalist David Kermode.
Wine Buyer Emma Robinson also singled out the wines for their gentle tannins, soft red fruit profile and commercial appeal, noting that they were high-quality examples of a style that resonates strongly with contemporary consumers.
The third amphora aged gold medal winner came from one of Turkey's best known indigenous varieties. Kavaklıdere's Château Serie Côtes d'Avanos Kalecik Karası Amfora 2024 showcased lifted cherry and berry fruit, refreshing acidity and soft, chalky tannins, demonstrating how traditional vessels can complement native grapes as effectively as international varieties.
Taken together, the three wines provided compelling evidence of a broader stylistic shift that judges observed throughout the competition: a move away from extraction and oak dominance in favour of texture, balance and fruit expression.
Indigenous varieties continue to shine
While a range of grapes acheived success, Turkey's indigenous grapes remained among the competition's most distinctive strengths.Öküzgözü delivered one of the strongest performances through Kavaklıdere Saraplari's Prestige Öküzgözü 2022, which earned a gold medal for its vibrant profile of blueberry, blackcurrant and morello cherry, supported by crunchy tannins and bright acidity.
Founder and Director of Diogenes the Dog Wine Bar, Sunny Hodge, praised the variety's versatility during judging.
"The single varietal Öküzgözü performed marvellously, showing a huge spectrum of styles but also working well with oak, displaying great balance of fruit and winemaking complexity."
Boğazkere also demonstrated its potential to produce structured and ageworthy wines. Eos Tarım's Perdix Boğazkere 2020 was awarded Gold after impressing judges with concentrated blackberry and blueberry fruit, supple tannins and savoury complexity.
The indigenous category also highlighted the diversity found across Turkey's vineyards. Antioche Barburi 2024 from Üniversal Tekstil received a Gold medal thanks to its concentrated black cherry and bramble fruit, vibrant acidity and long finish, offering a distinctive expression of a lesser-known native variety.
The results reinforced a point repeatedly made by the judging panel: Turkey's indigenous grapes remain one of its greatest assets on the international stage.
Lighter, fresher styles gain momentum
Another clear trend among this year's medal winners was the success of lighter, brighter styles.Kalecik Karası and Çalkarası both attracted praise from judges for producing vibrant, approachable wines that align closely with current consumer preferences.
Kuzubağ's Çalkarası 2025 secured a gold medal with its bright redcurrant and cranberry fruit, juicy acidity and soft tannins. Meanwhile, the gold-winning Château Serie Côtes d'Avanos Kalecik Karası Amfora 2024 highlighted the freshness and elegance that the variety can achieve.
"Turkey is blessed with red grapes that produce vibrant, lithe and fruity wines, perfect for a light chill, and therefore perfectly on trend," said David Kermode.
The rosé category also impressed. Kavaklıdere's Egeo Roze 2025 was awarded Gold after showcasing lively red berry and sour cherry fruit alongside ripe nectarine notes and crisp acidity.
Isa Bal MS was particularly encouraged by the development of lighter-skinned indigenous varieties and the growing quality of rosé production, noting the opportunities these styles offer for Turkish wine in export markets.
International varieties continue to excel
Alongside the success of native grapes, several international varieties demonstrated the consistency and quality that Turkish producers are increasingly achieving.Likya Wines secured two gold medals, with Vineyards Malbec 2024 impressing judges through its combination of wild blackberry fruit, herbal complexity and plush tannins. The producer's Winery Collection Cabernet Franc 2025 also stood out, displaying vibrant berry fruit, fresh acidity and impressive balance.
Bordeaux varieties performed strongly as well. Doluca's Tanit Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2021 earned Gold for its harmonious blend of ripe black fruit, savoury complexity and subtle oak influence.
The judges also highlighted the quality of Sauvignon Blanc across the competition, praising the category's freshness, precision and varietal character.
"I am impressed by the quality and consistency of Sauvignon Blanc from Turkey, which achieves a beautiful brightness whilst retaining the vital freshness," said David Kermode.
A confident future for Turkish wine
Across both international and indigenous varieties, the wines that performed best shared a common thread: balance, freshness and purity of fruit.Whether through the success of amphora-aged Grenache, the versatility of Öküzgözü, the growing appeal of lighter native reds or the consistency of international varieties, this year's results revealed a wine industry increasingly confident in its identity.
The 2025 IWSC Wine Judging in Turkey demonstrated that producers are not only refining their winemaking approach, but are also finding compelling ways to showcase the country's remarkable diversity of grapes and styles. See the full list of medal winners here.
Gold medal-winning Turkish wines
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