In the world of red wine, there’s nowhere to hide. Every element, from structure to finish, is laid bare for scrutiny. That’s precisely what makes a Gold medal at the IWSC so significant.
Over two intensive weeks in London, our expert panels evaluated red wines from 30 countries, spanning more than 160 grape varieties. The results speak volumes: while 79% of entries earned medals, just 19 achieved Gold status.
What sets these Golds apart?
According to our judges, Gold medal red wines offer more than technical perfection. As Alistair Cooper MW explained, “We’re looking for wines that stand out amongst their peers, that show personality, balance, and complexity – and that are true to their place of origin.” Context matters, and in blind flights of high-calibre wines, only a few truly shine.
For Alex Hunt MW, a Gold red must be “three-dimensional… balancing richness with refreshment, fruit with savoury nuance. It must show balance, beauty, and specific communication of a place or an idea.”
Victoria Mason MW echoed this, particularly in the case of Italian reds: “A Gold medal wine shows cohesion and completeness. The way tannin structure supports the fruit and interacts with acidity and alcohol is seamless – everything is in its place.”
But Golds go even further. Dirceu Vianna Junior MW described them as wines with a “wow factor – the kind you’d proudly bring to a party. There’s an emotional response when tasting a true Gold medal wine; it has finesse, purity and a strong sense of pride and place.”
This year’s Golds came from 11 countries, reaffirming that world-class winemaking knows no borders. While Australia led with four Golds, judges were equally impressed by standout reds from Brazil, England, Japan and Georgia. Hunt noted that these wines “weren’t trend-driven – they felt purposeful.”
Although the styles varied widely, the Gold medal reds all shared essential traits: clarity, character and confidence. They were complete wines – technically excellent, emotionally resonant, and deeply reflective of their origin.
Explore the full list of Gold medal red wines below.
IWSC 2025: Red Wine Gold MedalsScoreProducerWine NameRegionCountry96Sordo Giovanni 2020PiedmontItaly96Golden AmritaLumenval Moppa Shiraz 2020South AustraliaAustralia96Shaw and Smith Pinot Noir 2023South AustraliaAustralia95Viña Cono Sur20 Barrels Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2021Maipo ValleyChile95Teliani Valley Cabernet-Saperavi 2019KakhetiGeorgia95Hombo Shuzo Château Mars Hosaka Sannokura 2020YamanashiJapan95Domaines Paul MasCote Mas L’Esprit du Midi 2023Languedoc-RoussillonFrance95Ruffino Greppone Mazzi 2020TuscanyItaly95TrapicheMedalla Malbec 2023MendozaArgentina95Finca DeceroMini Ediciones Remolinos Vineyard Petit Verdot 2021MendozaArgentina95Brands LairaOne Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon 2018South AustraliaAustralia95Lyme Bay WineryPinot Noir 2021 Devon EnglandDevonEngland95Vitivinícola JolimontQuerências Do Sul Marselan 2022 Rio Grande Do SulBrazil95Rioja VegaReserva 2019RiojaSpain95Sainsbury’sTaste the Difference 2022RhôneFrance95d’Arenberg WinesThe Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2020South AustraliaAustralia95Sociedade Agricola Herdade dos LagosTouriga Nacional 2023AlentejanoPortugal95J. Garcia CarrionViña Arnaiz Reserva 2017RiojaSpain95Quinta do PégoVinhas Velhas 2017DouroPortugal
The full IWSC results are available from www.iwsc.net/results