30th September, 2015 by Lauren Eads

The IWSC has announced its 2015 varietal wine trophy winners, following seven months of judging wines from more than 30 countries.

IWSC 2015A total of 24 trophies have been awarded, with wines from the Southern Hemisphere faring particularly well. Both South Africa and Australia received four trophies each.

South Africa's Marks and Spencer Paul Cluver Ferricrete Riesling 2014 was awarded the Riesling Trophy, supported by Jancis Robinson, with judges describing it as being 'fresh and crisp in the mouth with a range of citrus flavours in gentle array balanced by a sweetness that is smoothing rather than sweet.'

Turning toward Australia, which was awarded a total of 50 gold medals this year, House of Arras' EJ Carr Late Disgorged 2002 was awarded the Bottle Fermented Sparkling Trophy for the first time since Brown Brothers won the accolade in 2007. Australian Vintage's Bin 9000 Semillon 2006 triumphed again for the second year in a row, picking up the Semillon Trophy.

New Zealand beat entrants from all other nations to take home the Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc Trophies, as well as 20 gold medals across one of the widest spread of styles and varieties ever seen from New Zealand in the competition. The Crown Range Cellar Signature Selection Grant Taylor Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 was awarded the Pinot Noir Trophy and the Rapaura Springs Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 won the Sauvignon Blanc Trophy.

'The standard of New Zealand wines entered into this year's competition was extremely high,' said New Zealand-based wine writer and judge Jo Burzynska, who was a New Zealand panel chair at the IWSC this year.

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