IWSC Wine Judging in Franciacorta: Medal results revealed
Last week, our second Global Judging event of the 2025 season took place in Franciacorta, Italy. The event was held in partnership with the Franciacorta Consortium at their base in Erbusco.
The judging panel was overseen by member of the Wine Judging Committee and Master of Wine (MW) Essi Avellan, joined by Antony Moss MW (consultant), Salvatore Castano (Wine Buyer at Friarwood Fine Wines), and Melania Battiston (Wine Director at Cornus restaurant). Over two days, they assessed 87 entries from Franciacorta DOCG, awarding five gold, 24 silver, and 46 bronze medals.
The judges tasted a wide range of styles, including non-vintage, vintage, and Riserva, as well as brut, extra brut, and zero dosage wines. There were 55 vintage wine entries spanning 12 different years, from the youngest (2021) to the oldest (2007).
Essi Avellan MW and Antony Moss MW arrived with high expectations and were particularly impressed by the Satén wines, which displayed exceptional depth and complexity. All 13 Satén wines assessed received a medal, including Le Cantorìe Azienda Agricola di Firmo Maria 'Armonia' Brut Satén 2021, which secured one of the gold medals, followed by five silvers and seven bronzes. This represents a strong showing, with more than 7% of the Satén wines receiving a gold, compared to a more typical 4 to 5% at an IWSC judging session.
A clear distinction emerged between non-vintage and vintage wines. Non-vintage wines were typically praised for their youthful freshness, whereas vintage wines offered greater complexity and depth, with standout entries from the 2015 vintage. Two 2015 vintage wines received gold medals: Lo Sparviere Sylvò Extra Brut 2015, which received the highest score of the event at 97 points, and Freccianera Fratelli Berlucchi Casa Delle Colonne Brut Riserva Brut 2015.
Melania Battiston and Salvatore Castano noted that the wines had a distinctive style, presenting an opportunity to appeal to wine drinkers looking beyond familiar categories such as Champagne and Prosecco. In particular, rising prices of vintage Champagne may create opportunities in the on-trade, as restaurants and other venues seek alternatives to fill gaps in their lists.
The two remaining gold medals were awarded to lower-dosage wines: Società Agricola Bosio di Cesare e Laura Bosio SS Boschedòr Extra Brut 2019 and Monzio Compagnoni Cuvée Alla Moda Pas Dosé NV, both of which received 95 points.
The panel concluded that the IWSC Global Judging has reinforced Franciacorta's reputation as a high-quality sparkling wine with strong ageing potential. The best wines showcase the region's strengths in quality, acidity, and relative affordability, offering something unique for wine consumers to discover.
Read the full results.
The judging panel was overseen by member of the Wine Judging Committee and Master of Wine (MW) Essi Avellan, joined by Antony Moss MW (consultant), Salvatore Castano (Wine Buyer at Friarwood Fine Wines), and Melania Battiston (Wine Director at Cornus restaurant). Over two days, they assessed 87 entries from Franciacorta DOCG, awarding five gold, 24 silver, and 46 bronze medals.
The judges tasted a wide range of styles, including non-vintage, vintage, and Riserva, as well as brut, extra brut, and zero dosage wines. There were 55 vintage wine entries spanning 12 different years, from the youngest (2021) to the oldest (2007).
Essi Avellan MW and Antony Moss MW arrived with high expectations and were particularly impressed by the Satén wines, which displayed exceptional depth and complexity. All 13 Satén wines assessed received a medal, including Le Cantorìe Azienda Agricola di Firmo Maria 'Armonia' Brut Satén 2021, which secured one of the gold medals, followed by five silvers and seven bronzes. This represents a strong showing, with more than 7% of the Satén wines receiving a gold, compared to a more typical 4 to 5% at an IWSC judging session.
A clear distinction emerged between non-vintage and vintage wines. Non-vintage wines were typically praised for their youthful freshness, whereas vintage wines offered greater complexity and depth, with standout entries from the 2015 vintage. Two 2015 vintage wines received gold medals: Lo Sparviere Sylvò Extra Brut 2015, which received the highest score of the event at 97 points, and Freccianera Fratelli Berlucchi Casa Delle Colonne Brut Riserva Brut 2015.
Melania Battiston and Salvatore Castano noted that the wines had a distinctive style, presenting an opportunity to appeal to wine drinkers looking beyond familiar categories such as Champagne and Prosecco. In particular, rising prices of vintage Champagne may create opportunities in the on-trade, as restaurants and other venues seek alternatives to fill gaps in their lists.
The two remaining gold medals were awarded to lower-dosage wines: Società Agricola Bosio di Cesare e Laura Bosio SS Boschedòr Extra Brut 2019 and Monzio Compagnoni Cuvée Alla Moda Pas Dosé NV, both of which received 95 points.
The panel concluded that the IWSC Global Judging has reinforced Franciacorta's reputation as a high-quality sparkling wine with strong ageing potential. The best wines showcase the region's strengths in quality, acidity, and relative affordability, offering something unique for wine consumers to discover.
Read the full results.
IWSC 2025 Wine Judging in Franciacorta: Gold Medal Winners
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