Trophies announced at London awards dinner
Founder Tom Stevenson and fellow judge Essi Avellan MW announced 11 National Champion sparkling wines at the Awards Dinner of the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2015 last night at Vintners’ Hall in London, in front of over 100 international winemakers, producers and journalists.
Champagne Roederer’s Cristal Rosé 2004 was also named Supreme World Champion, whilst Trentodoc producer Ferrari collected a new award for Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year in recognition of the company’s achievement in collecting nine Gold Medals and seven Best in Class awards for their nine entries. Additionally, Cuvage Rosé from Piemonte received the Chairman’s Trophy, awarded this year for the most exciting classic brut-style sparkling wine produced from an indigenous variety (Nebbiolo).
The 11 outstanding National Champions were chosen from over 100 Best in Class sparkling wines and include:
- Best Australian Sparkling Wine 2015 – House of Arras 2005 Grand VintageBrut
- Best Canadian Sparkling Wine 2015 – Trius NV Brut
- Best English Sparkling Wine 2015 – Nyetimber 2010 Classic Cuvée
- Best French Sparkling Wine 2015 – Louis Roederer 2004 Cristal Rosé
- Best German Sparkling Wine 2015 – Solter 2009 Rheingau Riesling Sekt Réserve Brut
- Best Italian Sparkling Wine 2015 – Ferrari Perlé 2006 Trentodoc in magnum
- Best New Zealand Sparkling Wine 2015 – Hunter’s 2010 Mirumiru Reserve
- Best Serbian Sparkling Wine 2015 – Trijumf 2009 Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
- Best South African Sparkling Wine 2015 – Avondale 2009 Armilla Blanc de Blanc Brut
- Best Spanish Sparkling Wine 2015 – Segura Viudas NV Reserva Heredad Pinot Noir
- Best US Sparkling Wine 2015 – Caraccioli Cellars 2007 Brut
Commenting on the results, Tom Stevenson said: “With 113 new producers, a 38% increase in the number of countries represented and 36% more Gold and Silver medal-winning wines this year, we can truly say that the CSWWC 2015 has been welcomed and embraced by every significant terroir for sparkling wine production!
“This increase in both diversity and quality has doubled the number of Best in Class awards this year, which is a good thing because it draws attention to the high standard of sparkling wine around the world, but it presented us with a problem. It would have resulted in so many Champion trophies by Style that those trophies would have been devalued. We therefore made National trophies our highest and most prestigious awards in 2015, with the single illustrious exception of the Supreme World Champion. Next year it is very likely that we shall see the return of World Champions by Style, but they will be reduced to a select few to ensure that the exclusivity of our top awards is retained.”
The CSWWC is the most respected, comprehensive and rigorous international sparkling wine competition in the world. The complete list of Trophies, Best in Class, Gold and Silver medal winners for 2015 is now available to view on www.champagnesparklingwwc.com/results/results-2015 and will be published with full tasting notes and price categories for each wine in Tom Stevenson’s Champagne & Sparkling Wine Guide 2016 (due to be published in October 2015).
The CSWWC is the first and only terroir-driven competition judged exclusively by internationally renowned fizz experts, who all taste each and every wine submitted to guarantee an unprecedented level of consistency and accuracy of judging. Founded by Tom Stevenson in 2014, with the support and expertise of Essi Avellan MW and Dr Tony Jordan, the CSWWC provides both consumers and trade with the definitive annual guide to the best Champagnes and sparkling wines on the planet.