The Best Wines In The World-According To The International Wine And Spirits Competition

A glass of wine in a valley.

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Each year, the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the beverage world, brings back all its individual wine winners across various categories to determine the best of the best. Think of it as an all-star edition of spectacular vintages, all vying to receive one of the event’s coveted Wine Trophy Awards. It’s a recognition that few wineries ever take home and can help cement a bottle’s high status in the wine world.

The IWSC conducts two versions of its judging each year to connect with the ever-evolving wine world. The first is a traditional event where producers ship in their wines for their tasting panel of international judges to sample. The second facet of the competition is their unique “in situ” judging. That’s where they send teams of judges into the field to taste wines on sight in the field.

The regions selected for the “in situ” judging change yearly; some stay on, and some drop-off. It’s a unique system that often results in stellar gems being uncovered in some unlikely places. This year, they traveled to Turkey, Argentina, South Africa, Georgia, and Australia, with a particular focus on the Margaret River appellation in Australia.

From the 7,000+ wines IWSC tasted in 2023, they awarded an array of gold, silver, and bronze medals to standout bottles. Those awards alone are a highlight for many vintners. But only the gold medal winners advanced to the final round of tastings to determine who would be awarded a Wine Trophy.

The twenty-four trophy-winning wines for 2023 are a diverse lot. Five sweet/fortified wines, fourteen still wines (five white, eight red, and one orange), and five sparkling wines made the final cut. If you are a wine lover or collector, these bottles are ones you should search out immediately.

Several regions did exceptionally well this year, with Australia taking home four trophies and South Africa with three leading the way. Of particular interest was Turkey, who, for the first time in the IWSC’s 54-year history, took home a trophy. At the awards event, the IWSC called out the exceptionally strong group of wines tasted this year, calling it one of their best in recent memory.

Here are the twenty-four trophy winners.

Sparkling Wines

De Saint-Gall Orpale Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut 2008

Rare Champagne Rosé Brut 2012

Piper-Heidsieck Brut 2014 (Magnum)

Carpenè Malvolti 1868 Rive Di San Pietro Di Barbozza Brut 2021

RAIMES English Sparkling Classic Brut 2018

Sweet/Fortified Wines

D’Oliveiras Tinta Negra 1995

D’Oliveiras Malvazia 2009

Bodegas Fundador Palo Cortado Medium Blend VORS NV

González Byass Noé VORS Pedro Ximénez NV

Inniskillin Icewine Riesling 2021

Red Wines

Clairault Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Syrah 2018

Evans & Tate Redbrook Estate Cabernet Merlot 2020

A.G. Oatley Wines Robert Oatley The Pennant Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Bodegas Bianchi Gran Famiglia Corte 2020

Antigal Winery & Estates Aduentus Cabernet Franc 2019

Corporation Georgian Wine Akido Mukuzani 2021

Akberg Wines Akberg Lethe Ercis Karasi 2021

White Wines

Leo Buring Leonay Mature Release Riesling 2017 from Eden Valley

Mont Rochelle Miko Chardonnay 2018

Capensis Wines Capensis Silene 2021

Distell Limited Durbanville Hills The Tangram White Blend 2020

Weingut Johann Schneeberger Kittenberg Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Orange Wine

Chelti Winery Qvevri Kisi 2020