Wines and winemakers of the year

The International Wine Challenge, the world's most influential, impartial, and rigorously judged global wine competition, has announced the highest scoring wines of its 2023 competition along with its five Winemakers of the Year.

Following a series of intensive blind tastings by experts, wines from nine countries earned themselves a spot on the list, which is comprised of International Trophy winners (wines named the best example of that variety) as well as the competition's five Champion wines (the ultimate accolade reserved for those wines deemed the absolute finest in their category).

New Zealand's Natalie Christensen named IWC's White Winemaker of the Year: Natalie Christensen, chief winemaker at Yealands Wine Group, has been awarded the title of IWC White Winemaker of the Year. Yealands Wine Group also won 12 medals as well as the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Trophy for its Yealands Estate Single Block S1 Sauvignon Blanc 2022.

Emilien Boutillat, Sparkling Winemaker of the Year 2023 

Marlborough producer Giesen Group also shone, achieving 20 medals as well as the International Syrah Trophy for its Giesen Single Vineyard Clayvin Syrah 2021.

The Organic Trophy went to Greystone Wines in Waipara for its Greystone Chardonnay 2021

Chile claims Red Winemaker of the Year: For the first time Chile claimed the Red Winemaker of the Year award. This title went to Rafael Urrejola, chief winemaker at Viña Undurraga. In total, the Maipo Valley winery claimed twelve medals as well as all three of the country's regional trophies plus the Chilean Red Trophy. This went to its T.H. Carignan Maule 2021 which judges described as "Fruity with plums, bramble fruit, forest and mulberries."

Argentinian Malbec named as world's best: Argentina's reputation for world-class Malbec was left in no doubt as the nation reclaimed the International Malbec Trophy, which it last won in 2018. This title went to Huentala Wines for its "incredibly vibrant and intense" Huentala Calizo Carmin Block 3 2020 which also won the Argentinian Red Trophy and the Mendoza Malbec Trophy.

Argentinian producer Bodega Argento won the IWC Fairtrade Award with Artesano de Argento Organic Fairtrade Malbec 2021, which judges described as "aromatic with rose petals and cooked fruit."

IWC Winemakers of the Year 2023:   

The complete list of winners is available at https://www.internationalwinechallenge.com.