IWSC reveals medal results of 2024 Austrian Wine Judging

Tue 27 Aug 2024

By Mila Gorchakova

Last week the IWSC headed to Vienna for our second Austrian Wine Judging in partnership with Austrian wine. Our team of international experts was overseen by our Wine Judging Committee Member Dirceu Vianna Junior MW. Junior was joined by a stellar panel comprised of UK’s top wine professionals, including Senior Buyers from on-trade and off-trade, Head Sommeliers and Communicators.

Over two days of judging the panels tasted more than 350 entries. More than 340 medals were awarded, including 13 gold, over 150 silver and more than 170 bronze. Austrian wines showed "consistent excellence and strong varietal typicity," shared the judges. With the IWSC often compared to the Olympics of the wine world, “it is very rare in this (demanding) competition that almost all wines come away with a medal, which are all sought-after whether they are bronze, silver or gold," said our experts.

Grüner Veltliner was the star of the show, with wines made from Austria’s trademark variety, both dry and sweet styles, scooping 9 golds and many more silver and bronze awards. Several particularly impressive examples scored as high as 96 points from our judges.

Grüner Veltliner Hutzler Wagram DAC 2021 by Weingut Stefan Bauer impressed our judges with its ripe nose with notes of “orange peel, candied lemon peel, nectarine, apricot, honey, spice” as well as its well-integrated oak and long, complex finish.

Another top-scorer was Grüner Veltliner Ried Berg Reserve Traisental DAC 2022 by Weinkultur Preiss: “lovely aromas of white pear, white melon, lemon rind, elderflower and some nutmeg. The texture is full and opulent with oranges, pear, melon, white pepper, gentle matcha/green tea flavours, developing into honey and chamomile. Delicious.”

Grüner Veltliner Ried Süssenberg Smaragd Wachau DAC 2021 by Weingut Eder Wachau was another highlight, “ripe and posed”, showing “lovely structure and good ripeness of fruit, with some nice honey character”.

One of this year’s discoveries was Roter Veltliner. The wines showed “interest, and ambition” while "bringing a sense of fun to the flights". Roter Veltliner Fels Ried Scheiben 1 ÖTW Wagram DAC 2021 by Weingut Leth received a gold medal and 96 points from our judges who described it as “uplifted and complex” with “concentrated aromas of tropical fruits”, “rich palate and great texture”.

Congratulations to all winners! Full medal results of the IWSC 2024 Wine Judging in Austria can be viewed here.