The results of the 2022 London Wine Competition are out. This is a competition where wines are judged for end consumers. Wines are rated with three main criteria: quality, value, and packaging. To be a medal winner, wines must show a rating in all three factors with the most weightage on quality.

It takes a lot to win big at the London Wine Competition. No wonder the 2022 London Wine Competition saw a wine that checked all the boxes grab the title of the Wine of the Year.

After several days of intensive tasting, testing, head-scratching, and pondering, the judging panel of one of the country’s top international wine competitions has reached its verdict, and the winners of the 2022 London Wine Competition have been announced. 

Besserate de Bellefon’s Reserve Collection 1990 secured The Best in Show By Country Category,  Besserate de Bellefon depuis 1843 secured the Winery of the Year Award with 93 points and a gold medal at the London Wine Competition. 

Edouard Besserat, an excellent winemaker and businessman, founded the company in 1843. Edmond married Yvonne de Bellefon, a descendant of another renowned Champagne family, in 1927, and their union gave birth to the house of Besserat de Bellefon. The Champagne Besserat de Bellefon's bubbles are 30% finer than those of a regular Champagne. This champagne range's winemaking technique uses a lower dosage, resulting in champagnes with tiny bubbles, lighter pressure, finer mousse, and a creamier texture.

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The tasting notes of this winning wine at the 2022 London Wine Competition read, “A rich and complex wine with fruits aromas with lovely nutty notes, and well-balanced acidity. Pastry and candied lemon zest with vanilla notes are perceived on the palate. This wine is refreshing and well-aged.” 

It was a great year for the overall winner, Graylyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat from Australia, which scooped the Best Wine by the Quality award and the Best Wine by Country. Meanwhile, the Winery of the Year has gone to France’s Champagne Besserate de Bellefon depuis 1843, while best Wine by Value has been awarded to Portugal’s Adega de Pegões Touriga Nacional 2017. And the UK’s Gerald’s Bubbly White Wine 2020 most impressed the judges with its packaging. 

Announced today (April 5th), the gold, silver, and bronze recipients of these much-coveted and highly prized awards come with the assurance that a top panel of wine experts with a variety of different backgrounds who have amassed their considerable experience of the trade have singled out those wines they deem to be the very best in class.

Some of the country’s wine trade buyers, sommeliers, master sommeliers, master’s of wine gathered at the St Mary's Church in London’s Marylebone, sniffing, swirling, and spitting their way through a vast array of wines.

Judges at the 2022 London Wine Competition

The wines were judged on their flavor and taste, packaging, and sheer marketability. After all, there is little point in stocking wines that consumers are going to ignore – they have to be commercially viable, and this gives trade buyers an enormous advantage to know that a particular award-winning wine comes with the seal of approval from the London Competition. And, of course, the awards also give the average consumer, who typically finds shopping for wine intimidating and bewildering, a steer on what wines offer quality at a fair price.

This year’s judges comprised some of the great and the good from the wine world, including Master of Wines Peter Mitchell, Claire Blackler, and Barbara Drew, as well as sommeliers and wine buyers from top names in the hospitality sector such as Gordon Ramsay Group, The Dorchester, the D&D Group and Goodman Restaurants, while the wholesale and retail sectors are represented by individuals from Selfridges, Berry Bros & Rudd, Franklin’s Wines, and Enotria Wine Cellars to single out just a few.

THE WINNERS

2022 London Wine Competition Winner “ Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat, Australia” by Gralyn Estate.

Wine Of The Year - Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat, Australia.

Winery Of The Year - Champagne Besserat de Bellefon depuis 1843, France.

Best Wine By Quality - Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat, Australia.

Best Wine By Packaging - Gerald - Bubbly White Wine 2020, United Kingdom.

About London Wine Competition

The London Wine Competition is an international wine competition organized by Beverage Trade Network. The competition looks to recognise, reward, and help promote wine brands that have successfully been created to tick all the boxes - quality, value, and packaging. The competition recognizes that for any wine brand to earn its place on a retailer’s shelf or a restaurant’s wine list -  and then vitally stay there - they need to be marketable and consumer-driven along with serving up the great quality. Learn more at London Wine Competition.