NZ wines score top trophies at IWC
The International Wine Challenge has unveiled its 2026 medal and Trophy results with New Zealand wines winning International Trophies for Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
Medals were awarded to 39 winemaking countries, with new entrants to the medal table from Switzerland, Montenegro, Sweden, India, Malta and Ireland.
New Zealand ranked seventh overall, with France, Spain, and Portugal taking the top three spots.
IWC organisers say that this year’s competition saw New Zealand reinforce its reputation for world-class cool-climate wines, with major Trophy wins across both Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc and a strong run of 95-point results in Marlborough.
Nga Waka Lease Block Pinot Noir 2024 (96 points), was one of the most decorated wines of IWC 2026, winning the International Pinot Noir Trophy, Martinborough Pinot Noir Trophy, New Zealand Pinot Noir Trophy, and New Zealand Red Trophy.
Delta Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (96 points) won the International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy as well as the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Trophy, and New Zealand White Trophy.
Additional New Zealand Trophy winners include Rockburn Crimson Peak Pinot Noir 2024 (96 points), Passage Rock Reserve Syrah 2021 (96 points), Marisco Emma Marris Chardonnay 2024 (95 points) and Marisco Diamond Heart Waihopai Cuvée 2020 (95 points).
Co-Chair Oz Clarke commented: “New Zealand's Marlborough has been making better and better wines this decade, both red and white and it was very satisfying to see how the different subregions are now making very recognisably individual wines.”
The IWC Champion Wines for 2026, which are selected following a re-tasting by the IWC Co-Chairs of all the trophy-winning wines, will be revealed at the International Wine Challenge Industry Awards Dinner 2026 on September 8.
These are the final IWC awards announced under the competition’s current format ahead of a major global rebrand launching in June.
Fortified and sparkling wines continued to deliver some of the highest scores, with standout results from Champagne, the Douro (Port) and Jerez (Sherry) among the competition’s defining bottles, with Menin Porto Tawny 80 Anos (98 points) and Rare Champagne, Rare Magnum 2012 (98 points), the joint highest-scoring wines in the competition.
Another competition stand out was England with the highest percentage of wines winning a Gold medal. IWC Co-Chair Sam Caporn MW said, “It's really wonderful that over 16% of English entries were awarded not just medals, but Gold medals. This is an incredible achievement and testament to the quality of the wines being produced in the country right now.”
Co-Chair Oz Clarke added, “It is now clear that champagne has a genuine rival in England and the battle for top sparkler will be keenly fought over the next few years.”
Historic European regions remain the benchmark, with Champagne leading the regional Gold table and classic areas such as Burgundy, Douro, Jerez and Rioja continuing to dominate at Gold level. In the new world, South Australia, Tasmania, Mendoza, and Marlborough were the regional highlights and from the UK, Kent was the stand out region.
W: See the full list of medal and trophy winners in the 2026 International Wine Challenge here.
