The International Wine Challenge, the world’s most influential, impartial, and rigorously judged global wine competition, has announced the highest scoring wines of its 2023 competition along with its five Winemakers of the Year in the categories of red, white, sparkling, sweet and fortified.
Following a series of intensive blind tastings by an international panel of experts, wines from nine countries earnt themselves a spot on the coveted list, which is comprised of International Trophy winners (wines named the best example of that variety) as well as the competition’s five Champion wines (the ultimate accolade reserved for those wines deemed the absolute finest in their category).
Victory for South African Chardonnay
In this year’s challenge, Paul Clüver Wines proved that South African Chardonnay can stand up to other winemaking heavyweights and previous winners, France, New Zealand and Australia.
Paul Clüver Wines took home the International Chardonnay Trophy for its Seven Flags Chardonnay 2021. This wine was also awarded the South African White Trophy and the IWC Sustainable Trophy 2023 in recognition of the winery’s eco-friendly farming and winemaking practices. The Elgin producer took home medals for a further six wines.
Paul Clüver Jnr, MD of Paul Clüver Family Wines, says that although the winery has put in a number of commendable showings in international and local wine competitions, winning three trophies at the IWC is a highlight of this Elgin farm who paved the way for wine-growing in the region by planting its first commercial vineyards in 1987.
“Being the holder of the 2023 IWC Trophy for Best International Chardonnay is celebrated by the whole Paul Clüver family and our team in the vineyards and in the cellar,” says Clüver.
“But if there is one person I would like to give this honour to, it is my father Dr Paul Clüver. It was his vision and foresight to plant the first commercial vineyards in Elgin, putting the family and our team on the trajectory of involvement in the fascinating world of wine. The fact that Chardonnay was one of those first varieties to be planted on our farm in 1987, and now to have the IWC Trophy for Best International Chardonnay underscores my father’s vision, although he will not blame me for saying that I do not think even he anticipated this achievement when laying down the first Chardonnay vines.”
Adding a touch of special relevance to the IWC trophy awards is that the winning Seven Flags Chardonnay 2021 was made from those very first Chardonnay vines planted in 1987.
Andries Burger, cellarmaster at Paul Clüver Family Wines, says these three IWC trophies for the Seven Flags Chardonnay 2021 are a result of the vision the winery had when releasing the first Seven Flags Chardonnay in 2014.
“The wine was created to optimally express Paul Clüver terroir, which from the outset we believed was conducive to making Chardonnay that can lay claim to greatness in an international context, while bearing the distinct nuances of our Elgin soils, climate and aspect,” he says. “The recent IWC Trophy awards have helped realise this vision, and for a winemaker there are few things in life more gratifying than succeeding in what you have set out to achieve.”
Wines judged “best in show” at the International Wine Challenge 2023
- France Rare Champagne Millésime 2008 IWC Champion Sparkling Wine 2023 – Daniel Thibault Trophy, Champagne Trophy, Vintage Classic Blend Champagne Trophy
- France Edouard Delaunay Chambertin Grand Cru Rouge 2020 IWC Champion Red Wine 2023, International Pinot Noir Trophy, French Red Trophy, Chambertin Trophy, Burgundy Red Trophy
- France Michel Tissot & Fils Château-Chalon Vin Jaune 2015 IWC Champion White Wine 2023, French White Trophy, Jura White Trophy
- Germany Weingut Hans Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2021 IWC Champion Sweet Wine 2023 – Alois Kracher Trophy, German Sweet Trophy
- Spain Bodegas Fernando De Castilla Oloroso Singular IWC Champion Fortified Wine 2023 – Manuel Lozano Trophy, Sherry Trophy, Oloroso Trophy
- Argentina Huentala Calizo Carmin Block 3 2020 International Malbec Trophy, Argentinian Red Trophy, Mendoza Malbec Trophy
- Australia Paragon Wine Estates Riddoch The Pastoralist Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy
- Austria Winzer Krems Eg Kremser Kreuzberg Riesling Kremstal Dac Reserve 2021 International Riesling Trophy, Austrian White Trophy, Austrian Riesling Trophy
- Austria Weingut Schneeberger Sauvignon Blanc Kittenberg Südsteiermark 2021 International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy, Austrian Sauvignon Blanc Trophy
- New Zealand Giesen Single Vineyard Clayvin Syrah 2021 International Syrah Trophy, New Zealand Red Trophy, New Zealand Syrah Trophy
- New Zealand Greystone Wines, Greystone Chardonnay 2021 Organic Trophy, New Zealand White Trophy, New Zealand Chardonnay Trophy
- South Africa Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2021 International Chardonnay Trophy, IWC Sustainable Trophy, South African White Trophy
England Lympstone Manor Estate Triassic Pinot Noir 2020 Best Wine in First Year of Production, English Red Trophy
The full list of Trophy and Champion award winners at the 2023 International Wine Challenge released on 4th July can be found here.
