The top 40 wines in the 2022 International Wine Challenge, the largest, most reputable, and thoroughly judged wine competition in the world, have been revealed.
Winners from sixteen nations were voted the best wines in the world after a series of difficult blind tastings, according to a panel of top international wine experts. Five of these 40 great wines received the highest honour of Champion, which is given only to the wines that are judged to be the very best in their respective categories of red, white, sparkling, sweet, and fortified.
New Zealand secures win with Champion White Trophy
For just the second time, Trinity Hill Wines from New Zealand won the Champion White Trophy for its 2020 Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay. The judges praised its “expressive yet nuanced nose,” and the IWC Sustainable Trophy recognised its commitment to the environment. With five wines in the top 40, New Zealand was one of the top performing nations in this year’s challenge. Two wines from the Giesen Group made the top 40, with The Brothers Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2017 winning the New Zealand Sweet Trophy and Single Vineyard Clayvin Syrah 2019 winning the IWC Organic Trophy.
For the first time ever, Australia wins International Grenache Trophy
Australia scored an astounding four wines in the top 40 list and finished second for Gold Medals in this year’s competition. The Ethereal One Fleurieu Grenache 2020 from Pinnacle Drinks, a first-time winner of the International Grenache Trophy, was praised by the panel of judges for being “soft and juicy yet delicate.” With the Australian Sparkling Trophy going to House of Arras for its EJ Carr Late Disgorged 2006 and the Australian White Trophy going to Tolpuddle Vineyard for its Chardonnay 2020, Tasmania solidified its position as one of the nation’s top wine-producing areas.
The Fairtrade Award is reclaimed by South Africa
With the Spar Reserve Chenin Blanc Fairtrade 2021 from Breede River Valley producer Uniwines, South Africa reclaimed the IWC Fairtrade Award for the first time since 2018. This year’s awards witnessed widespread success for South African wineries, with Bouchard Finlayson’s Tete de Cuvee Pinot Noir 2020 taking home the South African Red Trophy and Neil Ellis Wines’ Whitehall Chardonnay 2020 earning the South African White Trophy.
