Gold Medal Sparkling Wines: IWSC 2025’s Top Performers by Region
Sparkling wines dazzled at the IWSC 2025 London Judging, with 84% of entries earning medals. Entries came from 18 countries, demonstrating the diversity and dynamism of this global category. But when it came to the coveted Gold medals, just two countries claimed the spotlight: France and England.
Champagne Holds Court
France reaffirmed its dominance in the world of sparkling wine, with Champagne producers taking home 9 of the 18 Gold medals and 133 medals overall - accounting for 34% of all sparkling awards.
Judges praised the finesse and structure found in both Brut NV and vintage expressions. Highlights included the Celebris Brut 2012 from Champagne Gosset (96 points), Piper-Heidsieck’s Essentiel Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV (96 points) and Rare Champagne’s Brut 2102 and Brut 2013 (both 95 points).
Outside of Champagne, Maison Kuehn Extra Brut NV from Alsace was a standout with 95 points. As judge Cat Lomax noted:
From just five entries, Crémant d’Alsace earned a Gold, a Silver and three Bronzes - an exceptional strike rate.
England’s Golden Era
England delivered one of its strongest showings to date, with 93% of its sparkling entries receiving a medal and seven wines awarded Gold - a sharp rise from the usual 2.5% Gold rate. Leading the pack was Sugrue South Downs The Trouble With Dreams Magnum Brut 2009 (97), the top-scoring sparkling wine of the competition. Other standouts included Bride Valley Reserve Brut 2018 (96), Langham Blanc de Blancs NV (95), and Vagabond’s Nature Series Brut 2018 (95), reflecting the depth of quality across English regions. Even supermarket labels like Marks & Spencer and Co-op earned Golds, underscoring England’s growing reputation for world-class sparkling wine at every price point.
Global Highlights: Canada’s Chardonnay Sparkles
Canada didn’t secure a Gold this year, but its Chardonnay-led sparkling wines turned heads with their finesse and regional clarity. Ontario and British Columbia producers delivered strong results, led by Trius Showcase Blanc de Blancs Brut NV (93), which earned a Silver medal. Several producers followed with Bronze medals, including Lakeview Brut 2020 (87), Black Hills Estate Winery Brut NV (87) and Jackson-Triggs Entourage Grand Reserve Blanc de Blanc Dry 2017 (85). These results point to a rising trajectory for Canadian sparkling, particularly where cool-climate Chardonnay is concerned - a promising category to watch.
With England and France claiming all 18 Gold medals, the 2025 IWSC results underline their status as world leaders in sparkling wine. Yet strong showings from regions like Canada suggest that innovation and excellence continue to bubble up across the globe.
The sparkling wine gold medal results appear below. Our full results can be found on our website.
Champagne Holds Court
France reaffirmed its dominance in the world of sparkling wine, with Champagne producers taking home 9 of the 18 Gold medals and 133 medals overall - accounting for 34% of all sparkling awards.
Judges praised the finesse and structure found in both Brut NV and vintage expressions. Highlights included the Celebris Brut 2012 from Champagne Gosset (96 points), Piper-Heidsieck’s Essentiel Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV (96 points) and Rare Champagne’s Brut 2102 and Brut 2013 (both 95 points).
Outside of Champagne, Maison Kuehn Extra Brut NV from Alsace was a standout with 95 points. As judge Cat Lomax noted:
“The flight that really stood out among the French sparkling wines we tasted was Alsace. Although we only had five Crémants from Alsace, the quality was a clear step up compared to those from the Loire, Burgundy and Languedoc.”
From just five entries, Crémant d’Alsace earned a Gold, a Silver and three Bronzes - an exceptional strike rate.
England’s Golden Era
England delivered one of its strongest showings to date, with 93% of its sparkling entries receiving a medal and seven wines awarded Gold - a sharp rise from the usual 2.5% Gold rate. Leading the pack was Sugrue South Downs The Trouble With Dreams Magnum Brut 2009 (97), the top-scoring sparkling wine of the competition. Other standouts included Bride Valley Reserve Brut 2018 (96), Langham Blanc de Blancs NV (95), and Vagabond’s Nature Series Brut 2018 (95), reflecting the depth of quality across English regions. Even supermarket labels like Marks & Spencer and Co-op earned Golds, underscoring England’s growing reputation for world-class sparkling wine at every price point.
Global Highlights: Canada’s Chardonnay Sparkles
Canada didn’t secure a Gold this year, but its Chardonnay-led sparkling wines turned heads with their finesse and regional clarity. Ontario and British Columbia producers delivered strong results, led by Trius Showcase Blanc de Blancs Brut NV (93), which earned a Silver medal. Several producers followed with Bronze medals, including Lakeview Brut 2020 (87), Black Hills Estate Winery Brut NV (87) and Jackson-Triggs Entourage Grand Reserve Blanc de Blanc Dry 2017 (85). These results point to a rising trajectory for Canadian sparkling, particularly where cool-climate Chardonnay is concerned - a promising category to watch.
With England and France claiming all 18 Gold medals, the 2025 IWSC results underline their status as world leaders in sparkling wine. Yet strong showings from regions like Canada suggest that innovation and excellence continue to bubble up across the globe.
The sparkling wine gold medal results appear below. Our full results can be found on our website.
| Primary Score | Producer | Entry Name | Country of Origin | Region |
| 97 | Sugrue South Downs | The Trouble With Dreams Magnum Brut 2009 | England | Sussex |
| 96 | Champagne Gosset | Celebris Brut 2012 | France | Champagne |
| 96 | Piper-Heidsieck | Essentiel Blanc De Blancs Extra Brut NV | France | Champagne |
| 96 | G.H. Martel | Honoré De Balzac Brut NV | France | Champagne |
| 96 | Bride Valley | Reserve Brut 2018 | England | Dorset |
| 96 | All Angels | Ten Year Anniversary Classic Cuvée Brut 2014 | England | Berkshire |
| 95 | Laurent-Perrier | Blanc De Blancs Brut Nature NV | France | Champagne |
| 95 | Rare | Brut 2012 | France | Champagne |
| 95 | Rare | Brut 2013 | France | Champagne |
| 95 | Maison Kuehn | Extra Brut NV | France | Alsace |
| 95 | Champagne Castelnau | Rosé Brut NV | France | Champagne |
| 95 | Champagne Henriot | Souverain Brut NV | France | Champagne |
| 95 | Langham Wine Estate | Blanc De Blancs Nv | England | Dorset |
| 95 | Marks & Spencer | Collection Saint Gall Tradition Premier Cru Brut NV | France | Champagne |
| 95 | Co-op | Les Pionniers Vintage Brut 2013 | France | Champagne |
| 95 | Vagabond Wines | Nature Series Cuvée Brut 2018 | England | Sussex |
| 95 | Weyborne | Oriana Brut 2019 | England | Sussex |
| 95 | Gusbourne | Single Vineyard Middle Barn Blanc De Blancs Brut 2019 | England | Kent |
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