The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2025 has once again highlighted the dynamic changes taking place in the global wine industry.
With more than 12,000 wines from over 90 countries evaluated by an international jury of experts, the results confirm that excellence in winemaking is no longer the privilege of traditional regions alone. Diversity, innovation, and new stylistic directions are shaping today’s wine world.
Red Wines: Expanding Horizons
This year, eleven countries earned gold medals in the red wine category, demonstrating the broadening scope of global quality. While France, Italy, Spain, and Australia maintained their strong positions, lesser-known origins made significant breakthroughs.
- Japan surprised the jury with elegant Chardonnays from Nagano and Hiroshima, showcasing precision and finesse.
- Canada collected 71 bronze medals for red wines and stood out with six medals in the sweet wine category, confirming its excellence in ice wines.
- Georgia consolidated its reputation, earning awards for orange wines and Saperavi reds with strong aging potential.
- England achieved a remarkable 93% medal rate for sparkling wines, including seven golds, reinforcing its position as one of the most exciting sparkling regions.
- Emerging producers from Mexico, Cyprus, Moldova, Ukraine, and Myanmar also gained recognition with bronze medals—clear proof that quality is spreading globally.
The jury emphasized the balance, freshness, and drinkability of the red wines, noting a global trend toward lighter and more harmonious styles. Winemakers in traditionally warmer regions such as Portugal and Argentina are harvesting earlier to maintain acidity and avoid over-ripeness.
Sparkling, White, and Fortified Wines: Style Evolution
In Champagne, producers are increasingly leaning toward Brut Nature and blanc de noir vintages, with greater focus on fruit clarity and less on extended autolytic character. Meanwhile, Italian Prosecco received recognition for its clean, dry expressions, which reflect a shift toward higher quality in a widely consumed category.
Fortified wines are also evolving. Spain and Portugal remain leaders, but producers are introducing new techniques to achieve better structural balance and more versatile styles.
In still whites, France dominated with 51 silver medals, reinforcing its heritage and innovation. Australia impressed as well, earning 16 silver medals, praised for delivering outstanding value for money.
The Meaning of Silver and Bronze
This year, silver medals have been recognized as especially important. Jury members emphasized that silver winners represent benchmark examples of their categories—offering excellent price-quality ratios for both consumers and professionals.
Bronze medals, too, have gained new weight. The jury tastes only 65 wines per day, awarding bronze to about one-third of entries, making it a rigorous mark of international quality. Notably, large UK retailers like Asda, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco secured medals for their own-label rosés, showing that supermarket brands can meet global standards.
Innovation and Blurring Boundaries
Another defining feature of IWSC 2025 is the increasing blurring of traditional wine categories.
- Orange wines are now firmly established, with awards going not only to Georgia, but also to Austria, Japan, and France.
- Sweet and fortified wines are trending toward greater texture and versatility, broadening their appeal.
- English rosé achieved three silver awards, reflecting strong quality across regions and grape varieties.
- Sparkling wines showcased diverse stylistic approaches, both in traditional method and tank method production.
A More Inclusive Wine World
The IWSC 2025 results reflect a sector in transformation: one where quality can emerge anywhere that dedication, terroir, and technical expertise converge.
- Spain and Portugal continue to shine in fortified wines.
- France remains dominant in still whites.
- Italy maintains its hallmark diversity across categories.
- Yet these countries are now joined by new players who bring different perspectives and styles to the global stage.
For producers and consumers alike, the message is clear: the world of wine is more open, inclusive, and diverse than ever before.
The full IWSC 2025 report offers detailed insights into the winners, trends, and innovations shaping the future of the global wine industry.
Source: Vinetur