Last month nearly thirty judges from all walks of the English Wine world gathered in Bristol for the ninth year of the Independent English Wine Awards. I’ve been involved in some capacity since the very beginning, usually as a judge, and use the competition as a barometer to discover some of the up and coming producers and styles of English Wine.
This year the results are slightly lighter on the Gold Medal winning side, perhaps a sign of the times following two particularly challenging years in 2023 and 2024. However, there were some truly brilliant wines, particularly from those producers with innovative winemaking techniques.
Skin contact prevailed in the still wine category this year, with Vagabond’s Solena, a blend of four vintages in a Solera-style barrel-ageing system that delivered huge complexity. The urban winery’s diverse Night Tripper, an unexpected blend of five different grapes followed close by, as did Wharie’s brilliant Orange Bacchus 2023.
Stopham Estate are no strangers to Gold Medal territory in the IEWA, but their Barrel Fermented Pinot Blanc 2022 has to be one of the best examples of the variety that I’ve had to date in England. On the sparkling side this year, again it was the non-conventional approach that won over the judges. Bedfordshire’s Hungerhill Vineyard wowed with their 100% Chardonnay Col Fondo. It’s a masterclass in purity, and with its crisp green orchard fruit, vibrant lemon acidity and chalky salinity, it really made an impression.
Photo & Bottle Shot Credit: Pete Axford
“The newly unveiled winners of the highly prestigious Gold Medals at this year’s IEWA paint a fascinating picture of the current English Wine scene. There were nine golds awarded this year – of these, three went to sparklers while six went to still wines, testament to the increasing quality of the still category. And diversity is the watchword amongst the golds. How wonderful to see a ‘Col Fondo’ method wine take the top score for a sparkler, and a skin-contact Ortega win the best still wine of the competition! The golds hailed from six different counties and were made from many different grape varieties. The IEWA’s twenty-eight judges, including winemakers, wine merchants, well-known wine critics, and a smattering of consumers, have concluded that fine English wines now come in a remarkable multitude of styles and they often come from smaller, less well-known wineries – and the IEWA often has the great pleasure of discovering them.”
Susy Atkins, Chair of Judges
As with my previous year’s coverage on the IEWA, I’ve focused here on the Gold medal winners, but the full list of all medal winners can be found at www.iewa.uk
The Gold Medal Winners
Focus on the Overall Winners
Vagabond Solena Batch 003 MV
Hungerhill Merstone Col Fondo 2023
The goal of the IEWA is awarding, promoting, and celebrating the best of English wine, but it’s not possible for us to generate interest, excitement, and ultimately the attention and amplification needed to help grow the category without a really great set of wines… and every single year the English wines presented at The IEWA collectively deliver. The wines awarded by our panel this year show off the incredible breadth, range and sheer thrilling, audacious variety of styles and varieties of wine being created in England right now, and from all around the country. And the two top wines being a Skin Contact Ortega from urban winery Vagabond, and the top sparkling a Col Fondo Chardonnay from Hungerhill Vineyard in Bedfordshire just shows the incredible range now being expertly crafted here. Whatever you currently think of English wines, the IEWA25 medal list contains wines which will confound, amaze and delight you. People will discover new producers, blends you’ve never tasted in your life, and new vintages of some firm IEWA favourites. Thanks hugely to everyone who submitted wines this year, and of course our team of awesome judges. So I’d encourage people to get tasting, and try something totally new. I’ll see you back here for IEWA26!“
Alex Taylor, IEWA Founder
John’s Gold Medal Thoughts
Chilcomb Valley Rosé Brut 2022
Region: Hampshire
This is a youthful but composed sparkling rosé, pleasing with its warm pink hues and welcoming nose of cherry, cranberry and lemon zest.
The palate is superbly balanced, bursting with lively, zesty lemon and cranberry tang, then strawberry and cherry flavours as it opens. There are suggestions of shortbread and a touch of peachy ripeness. This is accomplished winemaking.
Vagabond X Artelium Nature Cuvée Series 2018
Region: Sussex
Overall, I think this was my personal favourite sparkling wine of the competition this year, and demonstrates all of the classic traits that you want an English Sparkling Wine with a little age to show.
There’s baked apple in abundance, some riper peach and apricot notes, as well as a lovely almond croissant and sourdough complexity. This really has been a great IEWA for Vagabond.
Kingsthorne Rosé 2023
Region: Gloucestershire
This Gloucestershire rosé blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier stood out with its body and texture.
There are ripe strawberry and raspberry flavours with a touch of peach, and then subtle savoury tones that I often find Pinot Meunier brings to a rosé.
Stopham Barrel Fermented Pinot Blanc 2022
Region: Sussex
This wine has a remarkably full palate; the ripeness of the 2022 vintage beams through with a generous and engaging mixture of honeydew melon, peach and a touch of pineapple. But there’s a lovely burst of acidity that balances the wine superbly.
This is brilliantly judged and a real standout Pinot Blanc.
Vagabond Night Tripper 2023
Region: Essex
Citrus skin bursts contrast with ripe peachy stone fruit richness. As it warms a little, more of that pithy citrus character comes through, as well as rhubarb and black tea flavours and textures.
A complex wine, but it’s also whistle clean with not a hint of funk that this style of winemaking can sometimes attract.
Wharie Project Orange Bacchus 2023
Region: XX
Hugely captivating, this is a real fusion of citrus peel zing, fleshy tropical fruit and then the variety’s signature grassy, floral character.
There’s quite pronounced tannin and hints of spice on the finish. This is a wine for the curious, but persevere and you are rewarded with a vibrant and entertaining ride.
Giffords Hall Bacchus 2024
Region: Suffolk
This is immediately gratifying, opening with a fresh, crisp nose of lime, grass, gooseberry and a splash of tropical fruit.
The palate bursts through with zippy green fruit and grassy herbaceous tones. The acidity is lovely and punchy, and one IEWA judge summed this up perfectly as “How Bacchus should be”. I couldn’t agree more.
