Tolpuddle Vineyard’s 2023 Chardonnay has been named the best white wine in the world by the International Wine Challenge 2025, marking a notable return to the top since last receiving the title in 2020.
The only wine to achieve a 98 point score, judges described the release as “both ethereal and confident, a complex wine, alluring and demanding attention, [and] rich yet taut, deep yet supremely elegant, offering beautifully integrated spice notes and cool fruit.”
The cult Tasmanian wine was the only Australian wine to be awarded an international trophy at this year’s awards, and one of 51 to receive a gold medal. This, along with the 447 medals collectively racked by Australian entries, is only slightly behind the 458 medals and 54 golds received in 2024, but was enough for Spain to overtake Australia to place second behind France in the overall tally.
Behind Tolpuddle Vineyard’s 98 point Chardonnay, the second highest-scoring Australian wine was Morris Wines’ Old Premium Rare Muscat, NV, with 97 points. Following this, 15 wines were awarded 96 points, including three other cool climate chardonnays: Victory Point Chardonnay 2021, Robert Oatley Finisterre Chardonnay 2022, and Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2023.
Similarly, The Real Review’s 2025 update to its Wine Classification, announced on the same day as the IWC’s trophies, also highlighted the strength of Australia’s cool climate regions and chardonnay in particular, representing one third of the newly added three-merit wines.
As co-chair of the IWC Peter McCombie puts it, “not so long ago, the words ‘cool climate Australia’ would have been an oxymoron, but some of our favourite Australian wines in this year’s competition came from cool-climate regions. Stylish, mineral Chardonnays from maritime zones and fresh, succulent Pinot Noirs, notably from Tasmania, were among the highlights.”
Tasmania’s Tolpuddle Vineyard
The Real Review’s new Wine Classification also showcases the ongoing strong performance of Australia’s cool climate regions, with Margaret River securing 19 per cent of this year’s three-merit wines additions for wines that have consistently been scored 98 points or above in top vintages over the past 10 years.
Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay also retained its position as one of Australia’s seven three-merit chardonnays.
Similarly, House of Arras’ Brut Rosé Vintage, made by the IWC’s 2024 Sparkling Winemaker of the Year Ed Carr, remains one of three three-merit sparkling wines. While the IWC award has this year gone to Cherie Spriggs from Nyetimber, which also won the Champion Sparkling Wine 2025 trophy for its Blanc de Blancs Magnum 2016, Ed Carr was one of three winemakers shortlisted for the awards.
Also of note, Julie Mortlock from De Bortoli Wines was one of the top three Sweet Winemakers of the Year, with Hans Tschida of Australia’s Hans Tschida Angerhof claiming the top position.
The Real Review’s 2025 Wine Classification also saw Victoria overtake South Australia as the state with the most three-merit wines, with 23 and 22 respectively, after three new wines were promoted.
The classification saw movement across all tiers, with 14 wines moving up to two-merit status and six bottles ascending from two to three merits.
The newly added three-merit wines for 2025 include: Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir. Flametree S.R.S. Wallcliffe Chardonnay, Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Chardonnay, Yangarra Estate Vineyard High Sands Grenache, and Yeringberg ‘Yeringberg’.
Explaining the annual Classification system, The Real Review’s Principal Wine Writer Huon Hooke describes it as “a demonstration in consistent wine excellence” and as “very different from other globally recognised systems in that it is not determined or directed by resale value or region.
“The wines are blind-tasted and assessed solely on a decade of quality alone: only the very best wines in Australia can claim a Merit,” he added.
The IWC’s Champion Red Wine for 2025 was the Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Hospices de Beaune Cuvée Cyrot Chaudron 2023, which was scored 97 points and was described by the judges as “cherry red, youthful and serious with tantalising hints of glory to come: rich berry fruits, exotic balsamic spice notes with a palate showing restrained power and density, perfectly ripe fruit and firm finish. A beautiful wine.”
The full IWC results can be viewed here.
Dining and Cooking