During the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021, 18,094 wines were tasted from 56 countries. Only 50 of those wines–less than 0.28% of the total taste–were awarded a prestigious Best in Show medal.
Wines from 17 countries made the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 Best in Show list. France led the way with 15 of the top wines, with regions like Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône being well represented. There was also a first, as a ‘Vin Jaune’ – or ‘yellow wine’ – a speciality of the Jura region of eastern France, for Domaine Berthet-Bondet, Château-Chalon 2013, took home one of the top 50 awards. It wasn’t the only Vin Jaune from Switzerland also took home a Best in Show award.
Spain fared the second best as it picked up nine Best in Show medals. The Iberian nation has continued to impress in recent years and has become respected for making some of the world’s top wines.
Italy was awarded seven Best in Show medals, including a first-ever win for a Prosecco, Castello, 47/87 Rive Di Vidor Extra Dry 2019, and a white wine from Friuli, Muzic winery’s Stare Brajde ‘Collio’ 2019, to go along with wins from longtime favorites Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino.
In Portugal, a total of three Best in Show medals were awarded, including a Value Best in Show for Gandarada, Dão 2019. Australia claimed two Best in Show awards this year for Calabria’s The Iconic Shiraz 2018 from Barossa Valley and Fermoy Estate’s Reserve Chardonnay 2019 from Margaret River. In South America Argentina was awarded a Best in Show for Catena Zapata’s Nicasia Vineyard Malbec 2019 from Mendoza and in Chile La Causa’s Cinsault-País-Carignan 2019 from Itata Valley was awarded this accolade.
Checkout the full list of top 50 wines from the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 below:
DWWA 2021 Best in Show wines
Argentina
- Catena Zapata, Nicasia Vineyard Malbec, Paraje Altamira, Mendoza 2019
Australia
- Calabria, The Iconic Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia 2018
- Fermoy Estate, Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia 2019
Canada
- Hidden Bench, Felseck Vineyard Chardonnay, Beamsville Bench, Ontario – Niagara Peninsula 2018
Chile
- La Causa, Cinsault-País-Carignan, Itata Valley 2019
France
- Legras & Haas, L.T.S. Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, Champagne 2008
- Charles Heidsieck, Rosé Réserve, Champagne NV
- Domaine Berthet-Bondet, Château-Chalon, Jura 2013
- Domaine Christian Moreau, Valmur, Chablis Grand Cru, Burgundy 2019
- Albert Bichot, Domaine du Clos Frantin Les Malconsorts , Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru, Burgundy 2019
- Château de Meursault, Clos des Epenots, Pommard 1er Cru, Burgundy 2019
- Xavier Mourier, Domaine de Pierre Blanche Résurgence, Condrieu, Rhône 2019
- Janicot Vignobles, Domaine de Meriguet, Cahors, Southwest France 2018
- Mas de la Séranne, Antonin et Louis, Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac, Languedoc-Roussillon 2018
- Château de la Chapelle, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 2018
- Château Croix des Rouzes, Pomerol, Bordeaux 2018
- Château Pierre-Bise, Savennières-Roche aux Moines, Loire 2018
- Domaine Charles Gonnet, Vin de Savoie Chignin-Bergeron, Savoie 2020
- LePlan-Vermeersch, RS, Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu, Rhône 2020
- Domaine Ray-Jane, Bandol, Provence 2020
Germany
- Fritz Wassmer, Schlossberg Staufen Chardonnay, Baden 2018
- Weingut Kreuzberg, Devonschiefer R Reserve Spätburgunder, Ahr 2018
Georgia
- Kakhuri Gvinis Marani, Qvevri Cabernet-Saperavi, Kakheti 2019
Greece
- Tselepos, Canava Chrissou, Laoudia, Single Vineyard, Santorini, Aegean Islands 2018
Hungary
- St. Andrea, Nagy-Eged Dűlő Grand Superior , Egri Bikavér, Eger 2017
Italy
- Castello, 47/87 Rive Di Vidor Extra Dry, Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore Rive, Veneto 2019
- Casa Setaro, Fuocoallegro Piedirosso, Vesuvio, Campania 2019
- Diego Morra, Monvigliero, Barolo, Piedmont 2016
- Castiglion del Bosco, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany 2016
- Muzic, Stare Brajde, Collio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2019
- Broglia, Derthona Timorasso, Colli Tortonesi, Piedmont 2018
- Capezzana, Riserva, Carmignano Vin Santo, Tuscany 2013
New Zealand
- Tohu, Whenua Matua Chardonnay , Upper Moutere, Nelson 2018
Portugal
- Gandarada, Dão 2019
- Soalheiro, Primeiras Vinhas Alvarinho, Monção e Melgaço, Vinho Verde 2019
- Henriques & Henriques, 20 Year Old Verdelho, Madeira NV
South Africa
- Cederberg, Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon, Cederberg 2018
Spain
- Hacienda López de Haro, Classica, Gran Reserva, Rioja 2004
- Real Agrado, Las Planas Viura, Reserva, Rioja 2016
- Cuesta Del Herrero, Finca Aylés, Aylés 2020
- Mar de Ons, Albariño, Rías Baixas 2020
- Matilda Nieves, Mencía, Ribeira Sacra 2020
- Scala Dei, Heretge Carinyena, Priorat 2017
- Familia Torres, Grans Muralles, Conca de Barberà 2017
- La Conreria d’Scala Dei, Voltons, Priorat 2017
- Osborne, Solera AOS Rare, Amontillado, Sherry NV
Switzerland
- St. Jodern Kellerei, Heida Barrique, Wallis, Valais, Switzerland, 2018
United Kingdom
- Squerryes, Late Disgorged Brut, Kent 2011
United States
- Trefethen, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, California 2018
- Hahn Family Wines, Lucienne Smith Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, California 2018
For more information, head over to Decanter’s official website.