IWSC 2025 Wine & Spirits Judging in Georgia: medal results revealed
Last week the IWSC international judging team headed to Georgia for our third judging event in the country, in partnership with the Gurjaani Wine Festival and National Wine Agency of Georgia. This year, we were delighted to welcome entries from both Georgia and Armenia. For the first time, in addition to Georgian and Armenian wines, we also focused on the region’s diverse spirits.
Our international wine judging team was overseen by the IWSC Wine Judging Committee member Sarah Abbott MW. IWSC judges Eric Zwiebel MS and Salvatore Castano led the spirits panel. Our head judges were joined by a team of UK’s renowned wine & spirits professionals, as well as local experts. Over 3 days of judging, our wine and spirits panels tasted their way through more than 400 entries.
Georgian wines once again put on an impressive performance, earning over 250 medals including as many as 22 gold.
Orange wines led the gold medal count with 8 golds awarded to qvevri-made expressions. Two of them scored as high as 97 points. Bolero & Company Sabado Grand Khikhvi Qvevri 2023 struck our judges with its complex aromas of “lemon, apricot, creamy honey with hints of mandarin skin”. Another 97-point gold went to Rkatsiteli-based Tamada Qvevri White 2019 (Georgian Wines & Spirits Company): a “super balanced wine” with notes of “vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric and hints of gingerbread.”
Georgia’s hallmark black grape, Saperavi was one of standout varieties scooping 6 gold medals at this year’s judging. One of the highest-scoring wines, Seroba Saperavi 2019 revealed “elevated aromas of lavender, plum, and a nice stony minerality. Lovely mouthfeel, great texture and spice, intense character of nordic berries and cherry, with a good grip”.
Another 96 points gold-winner is Saperavi Qvevri Bouquet 2021 by Mildiani family winery (Tsinandali Old Cellar): “cassis, plums, ripe dark fruits, hints of black chocolate and spice, green walnuts, great stucture and spicy finish”.
Georgia’s most planted white grape, Rkatsiteli, also didn’t disappoint, with 2 gold and many silver and bronze medals awarded to dry whites made from this variety. The judges praised one of the gold winners, Seroba Tsinandali 2018 for its “delicate and subtle nose” and admired the pallet which has “a real intensity and force, strengthened by the acidity and shows great vibrancy. A real joy and very gastronomic.”
One of the highest scoring wines was a sweet fortified Rkatsiteli of an impressive age of nearly 40 years. The judges applauded Saamo 1987 by Kardenakhi 7, noting that the wine reveals “a hugely expressive, madeira style nose, the fruit still shines and oak is well balanced. You know it’s a special one just on the nose alone, the pallet matches with fig, dried fruit, beautiful viscosity, oak balance, and length.”
Another strong gold and impressive score of 97 points went to a wine made of the more rare Otskhanuri Sapere variety - Guremani Otskhanuri Sapere 2022 (Gurjaani Wine Factory). Our panel admired the “clean, intense ruby colour; aromas of cherries, forest floor, dry herbs” and described it as a “well accomplished wine”.
Armenian winesreceived more than 30 medals, including 4 gold. Areni, Armenia's indigenous black grape, was the star variety winning 3 gold and many silver and bronze medals.
“It was interesting to see such an array of styles of Areni on show. Better examples were rewarded for their finesse rather than power, particularly when the balance of more interesting flavours aside from the fruits were on show. Areni keeps showing that it has many faces and we certainly saw a lot of them here,” noted the judges.
The highest scoring Areni was the 96-points, gold-winning Anamor Grand Reserve 100% Areni Noir Red Dry 2021 (Manukyan Brandy Factory). The wine revealed notes of “dark cherry and pomegranate, sloe berry, blueberry with a very pleasant background of sage, white pepper and bay leaf. Medium bodied and smooth, with a lovely texture that helps the array wild berries to shine.”
The judges praised Georgian spirits for their consistent quality awarding 30 medals, including 2 gold. Many silver medals went to chacha, but Georgian brandies were the real highlight according to the judges. Both gold medals went to brandies: Daisi Brandy 5 Years Old by Bolero & Company and Novella by Lionidzis Zvari.
“The quality of brandy was really high and we were pleased to see such a diversity and elegance. We believe that Georgia is doing a great job on the spirits and brandy selections and we hope to try more in the future,” the judges shared.
Congratulations to all medal winners. Full medal results of IWSC 2025 Wine & Spirits Judging in Georgia can be viewed here: Georgian wines, Georgian spirits, Armenian wines, Armenian spirits
IWSC 2025 Wine & Spirits Judging in Georgia: Gold medal winning wines & spirits
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