Champions announced for IWC 2026

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) has revealed its Champion Wines and Winemakers of the Year for 2026.

Five wines from France, Argentina, Italy and Portugal claimed the competition’s highest honours across sparkling, white, red, sweet and fortified categories, while leading winemakers from Australia, France, Spain and Austria were recognised for their achievements across the same five styles. 

Marisco Vineyards’ The Ned Noble Sauvignon Blanc 2025 was awarded the title of IWC Great Value Champion Sweet 2026.

IWC 2026 Champion Wine Awards
·  IWC Champion Sparkling Wine 2026: Rare Champagne Rare Magnum 2012 (France)

·  IWC Champion White Wine 2026: Maison Albert Bichot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Domaine du Pavillon 2024 (France)        

·  IWC Champion Red Wine 2026: Huentala Calizo Albar Block 06 Malbec 2023 (Argentina) 

·  IWC Champion Sweet Wine 202: Vinsanto Capezzana Riserva 2018 (Italy)

·  IWC Champion Fortified Wine 2026: Menin Porto Tawny 80 Anos (Portugal)

· IWC Best Wine in First Year of Production 2026: Derbusco Cives Franciacorta Pas Dose' Epique 2016 (Italy)

IWC 2026 Winemaker Awards
· IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year 2026: Ed Carr from House of Arras (Australia)

· IWC White Winemaker of the Year 2026: Estelle Roy from La Chablisienne (France)         

· IWC Red Winemaker of the Year 2026: Javier Martínez de Salinas from Bodegas Olarra (Spain)    

· IWC Sweet Winemaker of the Year 2026: Hans Tschida from Hans Tschida Angerhof (Austria)      

· IWC Fortified Winemaker of the Year 2026: Sergio Martínez from Emilio Lustau (Spain)   

Earlier, Marlborough’s Delta Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2025 won the International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy and Nga Waka Lease Block Pinot Noir 2024 won the International Pinot Noir Trophy. The two wines also won the New Zealand Trophies for White and Red Wine respectively.

W: See the full results at internationalwinechallenge.com