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The Latest Wine Trends From The 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards
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Decanter has just announced the results of its 22nd annual World Wine Awards. The DWWA is the largest and one of the most respected wine competitions globally. Below is a summary of the results from the world's leading wine regions and highlights of the industry's most significant trends.
Renowned for its rigorous blind-tasting process, the DWWA sets a high bar for quality and consistency in the wine world. This year's event drew an impressive 16,000+ entries from 57 countries, all carefully evaluated by 248 leading experts, including a record 22 Master Sommeliers and 72 Masters of Wine — the highest number of top-level judges in the competition's history.
At the DWWA, medals signal excellence across different tiers: the top fifty wines worldwide earn the elite 'Best in Show', followed by Platinum and Gold medals, all awarded to wines scoring 95 points or higher. To put this in perspective, the 50 Best in Show winners represent just 0.30% of all wines judged this year.
In addition, the competition awarded 137 Platinum and 732 Gold medals, highlighting truly exceptional wines from across the globe. Only about 5% of the wines entered reached this highest tier of excellence. Another noteworthy list is the Value Gold Top 30, which showcases high-quality wines priced under $20, reinforcing the idea that great wine can still be affordable.
France once again led the medal count, securing 187 top-tier awards: 14 Best in Show, 33 Platinum, and 140 Gold. The Champagne region was the standout, producing 27 top-tier winners, including three Best in Show medals for vintage Champagnes. Italy also performed strongly, earning 138 top-tier medals, including two Value Golds for high-quality yet wallet-friendly Prosecco and Langhe wines.
Spain continued its strong showing, with Sherry producers standing out: González Byass won two Best in Show awards, contributing to Spain's total of 105 top-tier medals: five Best in Show, 16 Platinum, and 84 Gold. Notably, Ribeira Sacra celebrated its first-ever Best in Show.
In the UK, English sparkling wine producers continued to impress, winning a Best in Show for a magnum — a first for the DWWA — along with two Platinum and six Gold medals. Greece also enjoyed a historic year, with 20 top-tier medals and its first-ever Best in Show wins for wines from Peloponnese, Goumenissa, and Epanomi. Other European highlights included Portugal, which received five Best in Show awards, and Slovenia, which claimed its first Best in Show for an orange wine.
Australia maintained its reputation for consistent quality, securing 80 top-tier medals, including four Best in Show. New Zealand added one Best in Show and 24 Gold medals to its tally.
For the United States, results were equally outstanding. California led the charge, with two Best in Show awards — one of which went to Clos du Val for the second consecutive year. Judges praised the winery for its refined style and approachability. Oregon and Washington State also earned top-tier recognition, while Virginia and Pennsylvania continued to build momentum, each repeating their gold medal successes from the previous year.
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In South America, Argentina achieved a record result, with a 50% increase in top-tier medals compared to last year, totaling 46 high-scoring wines, including two Best in Show awards. Eight of Argentina's awards were Value Golds, reinforcing its reputation for delivering excellent quality at competitive prices. Chile earned two Best in Show medals, including a first for the Secano Interior region, while Uruguay collected 14 medals overall, including three Golds.
South Africa broke its record by achieving 45 Gold medals, the country's highest total to date. Worcester earned its first Gold for a sweet 100% Muscat Blanc, underscoring the diversity of the region's offerings. China reached a milestone with 13 top-tier awards, including its first-ever Best in Show medals — a significant achievement for the emerging wine market.
Additional notable performances came from Japan, which secured eight top-tier medals; Austria, with 21 top-tier awards; and Croatia, which recorded its highest medal count to date, with 386 medals overall. Canada brought home two prestigious Platinum medals for its renowned sweet ice wines.
The awards also marked some 'firsts' this year: Denmark received its first medal, a Bronze. Uzbekistan made its debut with Silver and Bronze medals, Mexico repeated its Gold medal performance from last year, and Armenia returned to the spotlight with three Golds.
The DWWA continues to reflect broader trends in the wine industry. Orange wines gained further recognition, with 87 medals awarded, including Slovenia's first-ever Best in Show for this style of wine. Fortified wines also excelled, with four Best in Show medals split evenly between Sherry and Port. Platinum medals in this category increased from 17 to 20, with standout entries from Australia, France's Languedoc-Roussillon, Portugal, and Spain.
Additionally, heritage and lesser-known grape varieties received increased attention. Argentina earned its first Gold medal for a 100% Criolla wine, while Italy secured its first Gold for an Erbaluce di Caluso bottling.
The Decanter World Wine Awards continue to showcase the diversity, quality, and innovation taking place in wineries worldwide. For American wine enthusiasts, the strong showing by domestic producers — particularly those from California, Oregon, and Washington — reinforces the West Coast's reputation as a leader in premium winemaking.
Visit the Decanter website for a complete list of this year's medalists, tasting notes, and more details on each award-winning wine. Whether you're seeking iconic labels or exploring new regions and varietals, the DWWA is an excellent guide to some of the world's best wines.
