2024’s Best in Wine: International Wine Challenge Announces Champion Wines and Winemakers

July 10, 2024 – The International Wine Challenge, the world’s most influential, impartial and rigorously judged global wine competition, has announced the highest scoring wines and winemakers of its 2024 competition, marking its 40^th year. 

Following a series of intensive blind tastings by an international panel of experts, wines from four countries were awarded the ultimate honour of a Champion title in the categories of red, white, sparkling, sweet and fortified. The International Wine Challenge has also announced the five Winemakers of the Year in the same categories, with winners named from France, Spain, Austria and Australia.

France claims four top awards

France proved its winemaking prowess once again as the top performing country in this year’s challenge, taking home four of the ten Champion Wines and Winemaker awards.

• Burgundy producer Edouard Delaunay held onto the prestigious title of IWC Champion Red Wine for its Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2021, while winemaker, Laurent Delaunay, was also named IWC Red Winemaker of the Year. This is the fourth time this has been awarded to a winemaker from Edouard Delaunay. With a total of 26 medals and nine trophies under his belt, Laurent Delaunay is the most highly awarded winemaker in this year’s competition.
• La Chablisienne’s Estelle Roy was awarded IWC White Winemaker of the Year following an outstanding performance in this year’s challenge which saw the winery take home 18 medals and all three of the trophies awarded to Chablis. Upon winning the award, Estelle said “It’s a beautiful reward. It’s wonderful to encourage women in the wine industry”
• For the third year in a row, Rare Champagne has been awarded IWC Champion Sparkling Wine. This year, the prestigious accolade went to its Millésime Magnum 2008, which impressed judges with its “fine glistening fresh acidity and gorgeous pastry cream and hazelnut softness.”
• Over 500 French whites were awarded medals in this year’s challenge but it was Maison Albert Bichot that took home the French White Trophy for its “layered and complex” Hospices de Beaune Cuvée Baudot Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières 2022. Over the past five years, the Burgundy producer has won eleven trophies, 33 Gold, 21 Silver and 6 Bronze medals – and not a single unawarded wine – earning it the prestigious IWC Trophy for Consistency over 5 Years. 

Australian named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year for the first time

Australia was the second highest performing nation in this year’s challenge, coming second only to France, but the biggest triumph came for its bubbly.

• For the first time in IWC history, an Australian producer has been named IWC

Sparkling Winemaker of the Year. Ed Carr, Head Winemaker at House of Arras took home this prestigious accolade, marking only the second time it has gone to a producer outside of Champagne. Carr said “it’s the International Wine Challenge, you see that the wines are judged against peers from all over the world and it was always our aim to even be in that mix, which is certainly an honour within itself, but to be selected from that mix is something even better again. Such a learned set of judges and such a strong competition, it’s nice to know you’ve got something right when your wine comes to the top!”

• House of Arras’ sparkling wines picked up 12 medals in this year’s challenge, as well as The Australian Sparkling Trophy which went to its Blanc de Blancs 2014, described by judges as “a great example of a sparkler tasting like a really serious wine in its own right with bubbles as an extra.”
• This year’s IWC Lifetime Achievement Award went to Australian wine critic, James Halliday AM.  Halliday noted, “I am deeply moved by the decision of the International Wine Challenge to bestow its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award on me. I’m also humbled to join a list of international figures who, over many decades, have played innovative and significant roles extending into the four corners of the wine world.”

Georgian skin-contact wine awarded Champion White

The increasing quality of Georgian wine is evident in this year’s results, with the country winning more gold medals than ever before as well as the top prize for white wine.

• In a historical first for Georgia, the IWC Champion White Wine has gone to a skin-contact wine from Kakheti producer Vazisubani Estate. Its Kisi Qvevri 2021 was described by judges as “chalky textured and flavourful with baked apple, pears and a rich, lightly grippy, phenolic finish.” This is the first time that Georgia has received a Champion Trophy.

Sweet success for Italy

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Italy came 5^th in this year’s challenge for medals, however it was a sweet wine that took the top spot.

• Tuscan producer Tenuta Di Capezzana has claimed back IWC Champion Sweet Wine this year for its Vinsanto di Carmignano Capezzana Riserva 2016. This Vinsanto has won this accolade three times previously in 2022, 2021 and 2019.

Sherry reigns supreme in Spain

Spain’s reputation for world-class fortified wine was left in no doubt in this year’s challenge.

• For the fourth year in a row, Jerez has taken the title of IWC Champion Fortified Wine. This year, Bodegas Espinosa De Los Monteros impressed judges with its Palo Cortado VORS, which they described as “a dry sherry for connoisseurs.”
• Sergio Martínez from Emilio Lustau was also recognised in this year’s results with the prestigious title of IWC Fortified Winemaker of the Year, which he has won five times previously. In this year’s challenge, Emilio Lustau took home more medals than any other producer with 8 Golds, 15 Silvers and 3 Bronzes.

Winning streak for Austrian winemaker

Burgenland producer Hans Tschida once again displayed his excellence in sweet winemaking.

• For the 4^th year in a row, Hans Tschida from Weingut Angerhof Tschida has been awarded IWC Sweet Winemaker of the Year. Tschida has now won this award 10 times since 2010. In this year’s challenge, his sweet wines received 9 Golds, 7 Silvers, 3 Bronzes and one coveted trophy. 

IWC Champion Wines 2024:

IWC Winemakers of the Year 2024:

The full list of Trophy and Champion winners at the 2024 International Wine Challenge announced on 9th July can be viewed here.

About the International Wine Challenge

In its 40th year, the International Wine Challenge is widely acknowledged as the world’s most rigorous, impartial, influential and global wine competition. The IWC assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Awards include medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and Commended awards. Trophies are awarded to the very best wines in each category. The International Wine Challenge is committed to helping consumers discover great wine, and the medals offer a trusted guarantee of quality.