Wine Varietal Trophies Announced

It has been an intense 7 months since the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) started its judging . With 7 judges per panel, 3 panels per day, 4 days a week, over 300 judges from over 30 countries have finally tasted all the wines & spirits entered into this year’s competition. With all the medals having now been released, today sees the announcement of the varietal trophies.

From the 24 trophies awarded, Southern Hemisphere wines have particularly stood out, with both South Africa and Australia scooping 4 trophies each. One of the highlights from the South African line up is the Marks & Spencer Paul Cluver Ferricrete Riesling 2014, which took the Riesling Trophy supported by Jancis Robinson. Judges described it as ‘fresh and crisp in the mouth with range of citrus flavours in gentle array balances by a sweetness that is smoothing rather than sweet.’

Australia continued with their successes from this year’s medal count (including 50 Golds), with House of Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged 2002 winning the Bottle Fermented Sparkling Trophy for the first time since Brown Brothers won the accolade in 2007. Australian Vintage’s Bin 9000 Semillon 2006 triumphed again for the second year in a row, picking up the Semillon Trophy.

New Zealand beat entrants from all other nations to take home the Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc Trophies, as well as 20 gold medals across one of the widest spread of styles and varieties ever seen from New Zealand in the competition. The Crown Range Cellar Signature Selection Grant Taylor Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 was awarded the Pinot Noir Trophy and the Rapaura Springs Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 won the Sauvignon Blanc Trophy.

“The standard of New Zealand wines entered into this year’s competition was extremely high,” commented New Zealand-based wine writer and judge, Jo Burzynska, who was a New Zealand panel chair at the IWSC this year. “It was also great to see such a range of varieties winning top awards, as well as some exciting diversity in the Sauvignon Blanc classes that saw a number of complex older barrel fermented Sauvignon Blancs rewarded.”

Chile also impressed the judges this year, picking up both the blended Red Trophy for TerraNoble Lahuen Rojo 2012, Viña Terranoble, and the Carmenere Trophy for Sibaris Carmenere 2013, Viña Undurraga SA.

The National Wine Producer of the Year Shortlists have also been announced today, for a full list please visit our websitehttp://www.iwsc.net/halloffame#3114. The winner’s of these awards will be announced at the IWSC Annual Awards Banquet on the 26^th November, for tickets please contact pip.mortimer@iwscgroup.com

Full List of Varietal Trophies

Pinot Noir Trophy - Crown Range Cellar Signature Selection Grant Taylor Pinot Noir 2013               - Crown Range Cellar Limited

Abraham Perold Pinotage Trophy sponsored by The Pinotage Association - Kanonkop Pinotage 2012 - Kanonkop Wine Estate

Merlot Trophy - H3 Merlot 2012 - Columbia Crest Winery

Carmenere Trophy-  Sibaris Carmenere 2013 - Viña Undurraga SA

The Warren Winiarski Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy sponsored by Arcadia Vineyards - Robert Mondavi To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011 -Constellation Wines International

Blended Red Wine Trophy - TerraNoble Lahuen Rojo 2012 - Viña Terranoble

Malbec Trophy - Bodega Navarro Correas Selección del Enólogo Malbec Single Vineyard 2012- Bodega Navarro Correas

Syrah/Shiraz Trophy - Ron Thorn Shiraz 2012 - Thorn-Clarke Wines

Bottle Fermented Sparkling Wine sponsored by Denbies Wine Estate - House of Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged 2002 - House of Arras

Gruner Veltliner Trophy - Weingut Türk Grüner Veltliner Kremser Frechau 2013 - Weingut Türk

Chardonnay Trophy sponsored by Mission Hill - Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2013 - Jordan Wine Estate

Sauvignon Blanc Trophy - Rapaura Springs Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 - Rapaura Springs

Semillon Trophy - McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon 2006 - Australian Vintage Ltd

Riesling Trophy supported by Jancis Robinson- Paul Cluver Ferricrete Riesling 2014 - Paul Cluver Wine Estate

Chenin Blanc  Trophy sponsored by Wine Extra - The FMC 2013 - Ken Forrester Wines

Fortified Wine Trophy - Hardys Rare Muscat 20 YO - Hardys

Dessert Wine Trophy - Strewn Vidal Icewine 2011 - Strewn winery