The IWC Medal System
Trophies & Special Awards — "Best in Show"
Celebrating the very best wines and winemakers.
Gold (95–100 points)
Outstanding wines of exceptional quality and character.
Silver (90–94 points)
Impressive, well-crafted wines showing real distinction.
Bronze (85–89 points)
Wines with notable style, character and quality.
Commended (80–84 points)
Recognition for wines with clear varietal or regional expression.
Every medal matters — and every award is valued by producers and the trade.
Why IWC Medals Matter
Independent research from global wine-economics studies shows that medals do far more than recognise quality: they influence price, sales and consumer trust.
Higher Prices, Stronger Positioning
A major AAEA-published study (Paroissien & Visser, 2020) found medal-winning wines can command around 13% higher prices at the ex-cellar level. Hedonic price analyses in Portugal, Switzerland, Australia and international online shops confirm these effects, especially for gold-level wines.
More Sales at the Shelf
IWC's retail trials — supported by third-party academic experiments — show that medal stickers markedly increase the chances of a consumer choosing your wine. For many shoppers, especially those less confident, a trusted medal acts as an instant reassurance cue.
Trusted, Rigorous Awards Stand Out
Research published by Cambridge University Press and ScienceDirect shows that consumers distinguish between credible competitions and those with unclear or overly generous medal systems.
The IWC's stringent judging, controlled medal rate and transparent process ensure that each award carries genuine weight.
A High-ROI Tool for Producers
In a competitive market where visibility is harder to achieve, medals remain one of the most cost-effective ways to stand out.
The return on a single stickered bottle can be many times the cost of entry.
From Gold Medal to Champion Wine
Every Gold starts the journey. Only the exceptional make it to the top.
Here's how the IWC trophy ladder actually works:
Sub-Regional → Regional → National Trophies
All Gold medal wines automatically qualify for Trophy assessment.
Sub-Regional Trophies
Co-Chairs review the top Golds within a specific area (e.g., Barossa Valley, Chianti Classico, Rioja Alta).
They select the standout wine for each sub-region.
Regional Trophies
Sub-Regional winners then compete at the regional level — think Australia, Italy, Spain, France.
National Trophies
Regional winners are blind-tasted again to determine the best wine in each country.
Each stage narrows the field.
Each round means another blind re-taste.
International Trophies
National Trophy winners compete globally by varietal —
Pinot Noir vs Pinot Noir, Chardonnay vs Chardonnay, Riesling vs Riesling, and so on.
These wines are already the best in their own countries.
Now they face off for the title of best in the world for their variety.
Champion Wine Trophies
This is the final, highest accolade.
The top wines from the International Trophy round are blind-tasted once more to determine the Champion Wines of the year, including:
● Champion Red
● Champion White
● Champion Sparkling
● Champion Rosé
● Champion Sweet
● Champion Fortified
A Champion is not just "the best in its category."
It's the best wine the IWC judged that year. Full stop.
Additional IWC Awards
Planet Earth Awards
Awarded to Trophy or Gold medal wines that are certified:
● organic
● biodynamic
● Fairtrade
● or meet recognised sustainability standards.
These celebrate producers whose excellence starts in the vineyard.
Winemaker of the Year Awards
Determined by our data-driven scoring system that rewards consistent excellence across a producer's entire entry range — not just one standout wine.
This recognises mastery, not luck.
Great Value Awards
For Gold or Silver medal wines that meet strict UK criteria for:
● pricing
● availability
● and volume
Proof that quality and accessibility can go hand in hand.
IWC Own Label Range of the Year
Awarded to retailers with exceptional Own Label programmes.
A minimum of 50 wines entered is required.
Only truly outstanding ranges make the cut.
Special Awards
Honouring long-term excellence, innovation and leadership in the wine world. These include:
● Len Evans Trophy
● Best Wine in First Year of Production
● Personality of the Year
● Lifetime Achievement Award
These celebrate the individuals and producers shaping the future of wine.
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