IWSC Wine Judging 2026: highlights of week 1

From top Italian reds to intriguing Japanese whites, the first week of the IWSC Wine Judging in London has been full of surprises, stand-outs and fascinating insights.

Panels of wine buyers, sommeliers and the UK's top communicators have tasted and assessed thousands of wines across a wide range of styles, guided by members of the IWSC Wine Judging Committe: John Hoskins MW, Victoria Mason MW, Dirceu Vianna Junior MW, Sarah Abbott MW and Alex Hunt MW.

While we can’t share results just yet, read on to discover some of the key insights judges have uncovered so far.

Portugal: a shift towards freshness

In the Portuguese still wine flights, judges observed a clear stylistic shift - particularly in reds - towards lighter, more fruit-forward expressions with restrained oak, reflecting broader global trends.

Emma Robinson, Wine Buyer at Jeroboams, commented: “There was a distinctive lack of oak, or a more gentle use of it, which was a pleasant surprise. This aligns with current consumer trends towards fresher red styles with lower oak influence.”

Maintaining freshness and moderating alcohol levels will be key to achieving balance, judges noted, particularly as producers look to meet evolving consumer preferences.

Overall, Portugal performed strongly, with over 100 medals awarded, including 16 Silvers - pointing to a category that is refining its style while maintaining consistency.

English wines: confidence and category growth

English sparkling wines once again demonstrated why they remain one of the UK’s most exciting and fast-evolving categories. This year’s judging saw five gold medals awarded, alongside numerous silvers and bronzes, continuing a strong track record at the IWSC.

Emma Penman, Wine Buyer at Waitrose, said: “Vintage English Blanc de Blancs showed wonderful finesse, depth and quality - a category with significant potential for premium retail and on-trade.”

Still wines also made an impression, particularly Pinot Noir. Once considered an unlikely success story, the category is now showing real promise, with increasing stylistic diversity and confidence.

Senior Wine Buyer at Berkmann Wine Cellars Richard Lewis added: “The Pinot Noir flight was fascinating, showing a diversity of styles… it’s clearly a category to be taken seriously.”

As judging continues, one theme remains clear: across regions and styles, producers are responding to global demand for balance, freshness and authenticity - with both established regions and emerging categories showing how that evolution is taking shape.

Italy: regional strengths and a focus on authenticity

Italy’s judging highlighted the importance of regional identity, with results varying across the country but a clear emphasis on wines that express place and balance.

Veneto delivered one of the strongest performances, with Valpolicella and Amarone both securing top medals. Judges praised the overall quality and typicity, with Director of Wine Vincenzo Arnese noting the wines showed “true representation of the style that those grapes and region can achieve.”

There was also recognition for more accessible styles within the region. Cornus Wine Director Melania Battiston highlighted Valpolicella Superiore as offering strong value, describing it as “sometimes even more rewarding than Amarone.”

Elsewhere, results were more mixed. Piedmont proved a tougher category, though the benchmark for success remained clear. As Swig Wines Wine Buyer Nelson Pari explained, the top wines “have a sense of place and focus on quality rather than style.”

Southern regions added further interest, with Sicily performing consistently well and Sardinian wines standing out for their balance and freshness. Wine Writer Helena Nicklin noted that Carignan-based wines were “balanced and tangy rather than grippy and harsh,” pointing to a more refined expression of the style.

More Italian wines are being tasted throughout next week, keep an eye on the IWSC blog for further updates.

New Zealand: consistency, diversity and quiet refinement

New Zealand delivered a strong showing across panels, with judges highlighting both the consistency of quality and an increasing diversity of styles.

Syrah was a standout, with Barbara Drew MW praising the category for its range, from “rich and dense, to lighter and more peppery,” while maintaining “real elegance and finesse in winemaking.” She noted that the best wines showed “restraint, finesse… and pure deliciousness.”

Sauvignon Blanc also challenged expectations. While often perceived as uniform, judges found far greater variation in style than anticipated. Ellis Wines' Head Wine Buyer Megan Clarke noted that alongside more familiar expressions, there were wines with “a great sense of style and expression,” adding interest and complexity to the category.

This was echoed in the Marlborough flights, where journalist and broadcaster David Kermode emphasised that the wines do not all taste the same, instead demonstrating “remarkable consistency of quality” - reflected in a high proportion of silver medals.

Pinot Noir was another highlight, with Claridge's Director of Wine Emma Denney noting the quality of Marlborough examples, which combined strong fruit character with confident, skilled winemaking.

Together, the results reinforce New Zealand’s reputation for reliability, while also pointing to a category that continues to evolve beyond its established benchmarks.

Asia & Caucasus: emerging regions gaining definition

Wines from Asia and the Caucasus highlighted the momentum building across emerging regions, with strong performances driven by character, balance and a clear sense of place.

Turkey stood out among the Caucasus entries, with Da Terra Sommelier Maria Boumpa noting the wines showed “real character” and strong overall quality. Judges also highlighted a light-touch approach to winemaking, allowing indigenous grape varieties to shine through without excessive oak or intervention.

This focus on identity is key, particularly as producers look to build recognition in export markets. While indigenous varieties and old vines offer compelling stories, price sensitivity remains an important factor for UK consumers exploring lesser-known regions.

China delivered one of the most consistent performances of the day, particularly from Ningxia. IWSC judge and author Sunny Hodge described the wines as “consistently impressive,” highlighting their balance and technical precision, while Director and Wine Buyer at Good Wine, Good People, Dan Belmont added that Bordeaux-style blends are now showing the potential to rival their Old World counterparts.

Marselan also emerged as a grape to watch, with judges noting its growing importance, although consistency will be key to its long-term success.

Japan, meanwhile, showed clear promise, particularly through Koshu. Head of Wine at the Dorchester Matteo Furlan highlighted examples with skin contact for their added texture and complexity, though judges noted that greater stylistic clarity could help strengthen the category’s identity in international markets.

Overall, these results reflect regions that are still defining their voice, but increasingly doing so with confidence - combining technical skill with distinctive varietal and regional character.

Rosé: Provence sets the benchmark

Provence once again led the medal count in the Rosé category, reinforcing its position as the benchmark for quality and consistency on the international stage. Nearly 70 medals were awarded, including three golds - a performance that reflects both precision and reliability.

David Kermode reflected: “The journey Provence has been on is incredible, and what was most striking was the consistency and quality of the wines.”

Corsica also emerged as one of the day’s standout discoveries. Judges were particularly impressed by the freshness and elegance of the wines. Head of Product Development at WSET Victoria MacKenzie MW noted: “I admired the island freshness and elegance of the Corsican wines. They married freshness and sunshine-touched fruit.”

Together, the results highlight a category where benchmark regions continue to dominate, but where newer or less familiar origins are beginning to carve out a distinctive space.

Spain: Rioja’s evolution reflects a broader shift in style

Spain’s judging revealed a category defined by stylistic breadth, with Rioja leading the conversation. Across the panels, both traditional oak-aged wines and fresher, more contemporary styles were awarded top medals - highlighting a region no longer defined by a single expression.

IWSC Wine Judging Committee member John Hoskins MW noted this evolution, commenting: “We had some gold medal winning Gran Reservas in that long, oak-aged style, but also really juicy, fresh, modern wines and everything in between.”

Richard Lewis added: “We awarded very different wines the top medals today…this indicates that quality can be found, but balance is crucial.”

A shift towards balance was a clear theme, with judges observing less overt oak and, in some cases, lower alcohol levels. Classic vintages such as 2016 and 2017 Reservas performed strongly, showing that structure and ageing potential remain key when matched with fruit quality.

Beyond Rioja, Spain’s diversity stood out. Albariño impressed for its clarity and regional character, while judges highlighted that the most successful wines were those that were characterful and true to style - even when pushing beyond classic expectations.

Come back next week as the IWSC judges turn their attention to North America, South Italy, South Africa, Australia, Champagne, South America, France, and Central and Eastern Europe.