‘A world-class producer’: English wines toast record gold medal haul
Summary
English wines won the highest share of gold medals compared to the number of entries at the International Wine Challenge, improving steadily over the years. Experts credit better vineyard management, older vines, and climate changes for the rise in quality, especially in sparkling wines from southern England.Key Facts
- English wines won 25 gold medals this year at the International Wine Challenge, up from 10 medals in 2025.
- England had the highest percentage of gold medals per entry, with 16% of its wines receiving gold awards.
- Kent was the top English wine region, earning 12 gold medals mainly for sparkling wine and chardonnay.
- Older vines and longer aging of wines contributed to higher quality.
- Climate change with warmer, sunnier weather is helping English vineyards, particularly in the south.
- Experts say English wines are now competing with the world’s best, especially in sparkling wine.
- Supermarket wines from Aldi, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, and Sainsbury’s also won gold medals.
- France led overall country rankings, followed by Spain and Portugal.
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