Emerging Wine Regions in Focus: Insights from Our World Wine Awards Platform
Top Performers at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards
The 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) saw a diverse range of countries excel, with Argentina, Chile, South Africa, India, Brazil, Uruguay, Canada, and Montenegro all making significant contributions.
Argentina shone brightly, winning a total of 428 medals, including seven Platinums and 37 Golds. The country's success was largely due to its red wines, especially Malbec, with Durigutti Family Winemakers’ Proyecto Las Compuertas Criolla Chica 2024 becoming the first-ever Gold medal winner for the indigenous Criolla variety.
Chile also had a strong showing, with several Gold-medal-winning Pinot Noirs such as Cono Sur Ocio San Antonio 2022 and Terranoble Algarrobo Casablanca Valley 2024. These wines were praised for their vibrant fruit and tannin structure.
South Africa made history with its first Platinum win in the Walker Bay region, with Hasher Family Batrachella Pinotage 2022 from Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
India submitted 41 wines, its highest number to date, and won six Silvers, including two scoring 94 points: Chandon India Brut (sparkling) and Sula Vineyards The Source Reserve Chenin Blanc 2024, both from Nashik, Maharashtra.
Brazil entered 214 wines and earned its first Gold since 2023 for Maria Maria Isabela Syrah 2023, noted for its freshness and alertness.
Uruguay won three Gold medals among 14 awards, its first Golds since 2023.
Canada had notable Gold medal Pinot Noirs from CedarCreek Estate Winery (Platinum South Kelowna Slopes 2022, 96 points) and Hidden Bench Estate Winery (Beamsville Bench 2022, 95 points).
Montenegro won its first Gold since 2020 for Plantaže Pro Corde Vranac Čemovsko 2021, highlighting emerging quality in the region.
The Platinum-winning Chinese wine is described as having a tantalising complexity of blackberry fruit compote and succulent prunes garnished with cedar and black pepper spice and hints of green herbs. It is rousing and rich with immersive tannins and a lick of warming tar on the finish. Another Platinum-winning wine from China is Li's Estate Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022.
In the southern hemisphere, Chile and Argentina were the main South American players, although Brazil and Uruguay made their presence felt. The Shandong Peninsula wine, Changyu, Noble Dragon N188, Yantai, Shandong 2022, is a blend of Cabernet Gernischt and Cabernet Sauvignon, and was described as 'dark and searching, with plum-berry fruits'.
Vinakoper, Rumeni Muškat, Slovenska Istra, Primorska, Slovenia 2015 was the first-ever Best in Show for an orange wine. Dongfang Yuxing Winery, Geruihong Yeguangbei, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022, won the other Best in Show award for China. It is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Dornfelder, and 6% Cabernet Gernischt (Carmenère).
The future looks bright for orange wines, which got their own category in the DWWA as recently as 2022. This year, 86 medals were awarded to these skin-contact wines. Five orange wines were awarded Golds, coming from countries including Moldova, Czech Republic, and Ukraine.
The 2025 DWWA had 248 judges assessing wines from 57 countries, including Albania and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan, a newcomer to the DWWA this year, turned in a thoroughly admirable performance, with one Silver and 5 Bronze awards.
Christine Marsiglio MW stated that highlighting lesser-known regions helps keep diversity alive in the wine industry. Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovenia, Serbia, Georgia, and Armenia were awarded Value Golds in the category of off-the-beaten-track wines costing under £15.
The 2025 DWWA was a celebration of the diverse and exciting world of wine, with top-performing countries showcasing their unique offerings and setting the stage for future success.
- Delving into the realm of lifestyle and food-and-drink, the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) also engaged in conversations about technology, showcasing the first-ever Gold medal winner for the indigenous Criolla variety made by Durigutti Family Winemakers, an accomplishment resulting from advancements in vineyard practices and winemaking techniques.
- Travel enthusiasts may be intrigued by the emerging quality in the wine region of Montenegro, as marked by its first Gold since 2020 for Plantaže Pro Corde Vranac Čemovsko 2021, a testament to the potential for discovery in off-the-beaten-path destinations.
- Moving beyond the world of wine, the 2025 DWWA further highlighted entertainment and culture, as the Shandong Peninsula's Changyu, Noble Dragon N188, Yantai, Shandong 2022, a blend of Cabernet Gernischt and Cabernet Sauvignon, won Platinum, presenting a unique fusion of Chinese winemaking traditions and contemporary practices, integrating elements of both food-and-drink and technology.
