After 8 years of consecutive success, the London Wine Competition, in its 9th year is set to continue its aim of setting a true benchmark for buyers and consumers looking to buy wines of the best quality, price, and packaging.

This year’s competition saw wines from Australia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Georgia dominate major awards, with impressive entries also coming from France, Austria, Romania, the US, and Turkey, showcasing the global reach and growing influence of the competition.

2022 Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay produced by Paragon Wine Estates of New Zealand took home the superlative title of ‘Wine of the Year’.

Here are the top winners of the 2025 London Wine Competition.

• Wine Of The Year -  2022 Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay, New Zealand. 
• Best Wine by Package - 2021 Little Giant The Remarkables 105 y.o, New Zealand
• Best Wine By Quality - 1987 Saamo, Georgia
• Best Wine By Value - Elegido Tempranillo Red, Spain

These wines won the Best Wines by Country award:

• France - 2023 Corton Grand Cru Les Maréchaudes
• Italy -    Brunello di Montalcino riserva 2016
• Spain - 2021 Digma Tempranillo
• Australia - 2019 Masters Wigan Riesling
• New Zealand - 2022 Mudbrick Velvet
• South Africa - 2023 Marimist
• United States - 2018 Terra Sávia Merlot
• Chile- 2019 Aoyo Surpass Dark Gold R6 Red Wine
• Portugal - 2024 Pancas Reserva
• Germany- 2022 Adventure
• Hungary- 2023 Tanyamacska
• Romania- 2024 Patima Feteasca Alba
• Turkey- 2023 Gal Karasi
• United Kingdom- Chartham Vineyard Blanc de Blancs 2021
• Greece - 2023 Anhydrous Krama
• Austria - 2023 Riesling Smaragd Achleiten
• Brazil- Évidence Cuvée Brut (Non-Vintage)

These are the award-winners for the Best Wines by Varietal:

• Cabernet Sauvignon- Trinity Hill Single Vineyard 'Prison Block' Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, New Zealand
• Shiraz- 2023 Jaraman Shiraz, Australia
• Pinot noir - 2023 Ernest, South Africa
• Merlot- 2019 Trame Rosse, Italy
• Tempranillo - 2021 DIGMA TEMPRANILLO, Spain
• Malbec- 2021 Clos Del Molle Ingrato, Argentina
• Sangiovese- 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy
• Riesling - 2019 Masters Wigan Riesling, Australia
• Sauvignon blanc - 2024 Catalina Sounds, New Zealand
• Chardonnay- 2022 Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay, New Zealand
• Rkatsiteli- 2022 Rkatsiteli Qvevri, Georgia

View full results here

Recognising, Rewarding and Promoting

The 2026 London Wine Competition is an international wine competition organized by Beverage Trade Network and is set to happen on March 23rd and 24th, 2026, in London. The London Wine Competition looks to recognise, reward and help promote wine brands that have successfully been created to identify with and target a specific wine drinker. 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 and not just produced in the general hope it can find enough people willing to sell and buy it.

Quality, Value, Package and Design

The London Wine Competition awards medals according to quality, value for money, packaging and design. All 3 aspects are key to winning over the consumer whether on the shelf or at the dining table. Whilst looking great has always been a part of shop retail, it is now clear that restaurants require excellent packaging and design.

Sommeliers want guests to be impressed with their choice or suggestion of wine, and so it follows naturally that when they bring the bottle to the table that it represents every ounce the quality that they have recommended.

Left to Right: 2022 Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay; 1987 Saamo; 2023 Ernest

London Wine Competition's 2025 Wine Professionals

The credibility of the London Wine Competition lies in the depth and diversity of its judging panel. Their combined expertise spans fine wine buying, hospitality, distribution, retail, and education. Each wine was tasted blind, scored on quality, then re-evaluated based on price and packaging to determine its total commercial viability.

This year's panel featured over 70 esteemed professionals, including:

Masters of Wine: 

• Claire Blackler MW
• Annette Scarfe MW
• Tim Triptree MW
• Emily Brighton MW
• David Gill MW

Master Sommeliers: 

• Yves Desmaris MS
• Christopher Delalonde MS
• Kathrine Larsen Robert MS
• Matteo Montone MS

Trade Buyers and Industry Experts:

• Valeria Rodriguez AIWS, Head of Fine Wine at Bibendum Wine
• Joshua Castle, Group Head Buyer for Keeling Andrew, Noble Rot, and Shrine to the Vine
• Bianca Ford, Operations Director and Buyer at Yapp Brothers Ltd
• Frances Bentley, Wine Buyer at LWC Drinks
• Carla Bertellotti, Managing Director at Vinos Latinos

Benefits and reasons on why you should enter your wines in the London Wine Competition.

• Raise your brands’ profile, prestige, and credibility with importers, distributors, press, retailers, and consumers
• Instill confidence in the trade buyer about the marketability of your wine as LWC rates wines by its value, package, and quality.
• Winners to be showcased at LWC participating events at no extra fees
• Winners get access to stickers and all winning materials at no extra fees.
• Increase product sales
• Boost awareness of your brand in the media via extensive editorial and press coverage via LWC media partners
• Use the LWC logo on packaging and as part of your own promotional plan
• Social media promotion of winners ALL YEAR ROUND
• Entrants to get customized shelf-talkers and tasting notes. 

Key Dates:

• Super Early Bird Deadline - 31 August 2026
• Early Bird Deadline - 30 November 2026
• Regular Deadline - 28 February 2026
• Warehouse Closes: 7 March 2026
• Judging Date: 23 & 24 March 2026
• Winners Announced: 22 April 2026

Fee Schedule:

• £90 Super Early Bird - Now to 31 August 2025
• £120 Early Bird - 1 September 2025 to 30 November 2025
• £140 Regular - 1 December 2025 to 28 February 2026

Quantity Discount Now Available

• 4 to 9 entries: 10% discount
• 10 to 14 entries: 15% discount
• 15 or more entries: 20% discount

Here are the steps to enter your wines in the London Wine Competition.