Under Embargo Until 25 June 2014

Under Embargo until 25 June 2014

Press Release: Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) announces Regional and International Trophies

Wines from South Africa, France, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Argentina, New Zealand, Portugal, Australia, Chile, USA, and Spain have been honoured with the top prizes at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), the world’s largest and most prestigious wine competition.

Only 33 International Trophies were awarded at DWWA 2014, representing just 0.22% of the 15,007 wines entered. Judging involved 224 specialist tasters from around the world, including 66 Masters of Wine and 18 Master Sommeliers.

South African producers scooped five International Trophies at the 2014 Decanter World Wine Awards, outperforming other New World wine countries such as Australia, US, Chile and Argentina.

Lynne Sherriff MW, DWWA Regional Chair for South Africa, said: “The DWWA is a very prestigious international wine competition and these wonderful results can only be positive for South Africa.”

From the Old World, France did particularly well, gaining seven International Trophies for an eclectic mix of French producers at the 2014 Decanter World Wine Awards.

“This shows the constant re-invention and therefore re-evaluation of France, whose staying power is now unquestioned,” said Steven Spurrier, Decanter Consultant Editor and Chair of DWWA.

Other notable wins included record firsts for Canada and Switzerland, who won their first ever International Trophies for Inniskillin, Vidal Icewine, Ontario - Niagara Peninsula 2012 (Sweet over £15 International Trophy) and St. Jodern Kellerei, Heida Barrique, Valais 2012 (Single-Varietal White over £15 International Trophy) respectively.

In the UK, supermarkets proved that own-label wines can stand up to well-known names, with a Valpolicella Ripasso from Morrisons and a Riesling from Marks & Spencer beating thousands of rivals to scoop two of the under £15 International Trophies.

Steven Spurrier, DWWA Chair, said: “The better supermarkets are known for two things. They have a top team of buyers, often with more than one Master of Wine, and offer the best value to their customers. It takes the DWWA to highlight these values.”

Judges awarded 10,455 medals in total at this year’s awards, including 125 Regional Trophies, 454 Gold medals, 2,003 Silver, 4,378 Bronze and 3,620 Commended. Regional Trophies are awarded to the best Gold medal winners in a particular region and then compete for International Trophies in specific categories defined by wine style.

For full results, international stockists and winner profiles, visit: http://www.decanter.com/dwwa END

For more information please contact: Emma Salter, DWWA Marketing Executive E: [email protected] T: +44 (0)203 14 84512

Notes to Editors:

 The DWWA was launched in 2004 and is celebrating 11 years as the world’s leading wine competition.  The DWWA is respected internationally for its prestigious reputation and unrivalled consumer influence.  Wine entries are organised for tasting by country, region, colour, grape, style, vintage, and price, to ensure that wines are judged in flights against their peers.  All wines are tasted blind within their region of origin and price bracket, to ensure like-for- like comparison.  Wines awarded a Gold or Silver medal are re-tasted by the Regional Chair for his or her confirmation.  Gold wines are then re-tasted by members of the region’s panel who award a Regional Trophy to the best wine in each category (under £15) and a Regional Trophy to the best wine in each category (over £15).  All Regional Trophy winners are then split into categories according to grape variety or style. These wines then compete for the International Trophies (under £15) and International Trophies (over £15) in a separate tasting judged by our Chairman, Steven Spurrier, our Guest Vice-Chair, Gerard Basset OBE MS MW, and three Regional Chairs.  The results of the Regional and International Trophies were announced at the Decanter World Wine Awards Ceremony, on Tuesday 24 June 2014 at the Blue Fin Building in London and on Decanter.com.  For a full list of all the results of the 2014 Decanter World Wine Awards, from Commended to International Trophy-level, please visit www.decanter.com/dwwa. The results will also be published as part of the DWWA commemorative supplement, available with the August issue of Decanter magazine, on sale 2 July 2014.  A press centre containing materials available to the press will be available on 25 June at http://www.decanterawards.com/en/dwwa/press-centre/

International Trophy winners:

Sparkling under £15: Cruzat, Cuvée Réserve Rosé Extra Brut, Argentina NV

Sparkling over £15: Charles Heidsieck, Blanc des Millénaires Brut, Champagne, France 1995

Dry Riesling under £15: Marks & Spencer, Eclipse Riesling, Bío Bío Valley, Chile 2012

Dry Riesling over £15: Pewsey Vale, The Contours Museum Reserve Riesling, Eden Valley, South Australia 2008

Dry Aromatic under £15: Lawson's Dry Hills, Gewürztraminer, Marlborough, New Zealand 2012 Off-Dry over £15: Domaine Zinck, Pinot Gris Portrait, France 2012

Rosé over £15: Domaine de Rimauresq, R, Côtes de Provence, Provence, France 2013

White Blend over £15: Domaine de la Vougeraie, Monopole Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot, Vougeot 1er Cru, Burgundy, France 2011

Sauvignon Blanc under £15: Paul Cluver, Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Elgin, South Africa 2013

Sauvignon Blanc over £15: Jean-Paul Balland, Grande Cuvée, Sancerre, Loire, France 2012

Chardonnay under £15: Albert Bichot, Secret de Famille Chardonnay, Bourgogne, France 2012

Chardonnay over £15: Jordan, Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2013

White Single-Varietal under £15: McGuigan, The Shortlist Semillon, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia 2007

White Single-Varietal over £15: St. Jodern Kellerei, Heida Barrique, Valais, Switzerland 2012

Pinot Noir under £15: Falernia, Pinot Noir Reserva, Elqui Valley, Chile 2013

Pinot Noir over £15: Greystone, The Brothers' Reserve Pinot Noir, Waipara, Canterbury, New Zealand 2012

Red Rhône Varietals under £15: Spier, Creative Block 3, Coastal Region, South Africa 2011

Red Rhône Varietals over £15: Château Cesseras, Minervois La Livinière, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2011

Red Spanish Varietals under £15: Olarra, Erudito, Rioja Reserva, Spain 2009

Red Spanish Varietals over £15: Mustiguillo, Pago el Terrerazo, Spain 2011

Red Italian Varietals under £15: Costarossa, Surani, Primitivo di Manduria, Puglia, Italy 2012

Red Italian Varietals over £15: Pianpolvere Soprano, Bussia 7 Anni, Barolo Riserva, Piedmont, Italy 2007

Red Blend under £15: Morrison's, Signature, Valpolicella Ripasso, Veneto, Italy 2012

Red Blend over £15: Zenato, Ripassa, Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore, Veneto, Italy 2010

Red Single-Varietal under £15: Fabre Montmayou, HJ. Fabre Barrel Selection Malbec, Patagonia, Argentina 2013

Red Single-Varietal over £15: El Esteco, Don David Reserve Tannat, Salta, Argentina 2012

Red Bordeaux Varietals under £15: Hartenberg, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2010

Red Bordeaux Varietals over £15: L'Ecole No. 41, Ferguson, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State, USA 2011 Sweet under £15: KWV, The Mentors Noble Late Harvest, Walker Bay, South Africa 2012

Sweet over £15: Inniskillin, Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Canada 2012

Dry Fortified under £15: La Ina, Fino, Sherry, Spain NV

Dry Fortified over £15: Lustau, 30 Years Old VORS, Amontillado, Sherry, Spain NV

Sweet Fortified over £15: Blandy's, Malmsey, Madeira, Portugal 1988

Full details on all the above wines, including international stockist information, will be available at www.decanter.com/dwwa from 25 June.

Regional Trophy winners:

Please visit www.decanter.com/dwwa from 25 June for all Regional Trophy winners, including international stockist information.