RESULTS ARE IN for the 2021 International Wines and Spirits Competition (NH)

The IWSC has just released the results of the 2021 Northern Hemisphere wines, and here are some of the winners.

This year there were 3,460 wines that were awarded medals.

Gold Medal Wines

Only 148 wines qualifying for a gold medal this year.

Fifteen of the wines were sweet wines and sixteen were fortified wines (with eight being port wines and eight were Sherries).

Canada this year received seven gold medalists in the sweet wine category. All seven were ice wines from the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario. The highest-rated wine was the Andrew Peller Estates, Niagara Peninsula VQA, 2019 Riesling, 10.5% ABV.

Greece also had two gold medalists - 2001 and the 2013 bottlings from Estate Argyros on Santorini. Other standout sweet wines included the Szent Tamás Furmint 2018 from Balassa Bor Tokaj in Hungary and the 2017 Trockenbeerenauslese Riesling from Weingut Rabl in Austria.

Sparkling Wine

There were 32 gold medalists in the sparkling wine category with France dominating this category with 14 winners. The top-ranked Champagne was the 2008 Piper Heidsieck, Brut. Right behind it was the 2008 Piper Heidsieck, Rosé Brut. Other standouts include the 2012 Chateau Palmer Brut and the 2008 Orpale Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc from Champagne de Saint Gall.

Italy had seven sparkling wine winners: Franciacorta, 2014 Brut from Lo Sparviere and, surprisingly, a 2020 Concerto Lambrusco Dry from Medici Ermete. There were four Prosecco bottlings: 2019, Duca di Dolle Societa’ Agricola, 100% Extra Dry; Tenuta di Collalbrigo, Non-Vintage, Extra Dry NV; Conte Collalto, Octavian Sui Leviticus Zero Dosage Brut Naturale and the 2020 San Salvatore Brut Millesimato Prosecco DOCG from Collalto.

UK had nine winners in the sparkling wine category, with the highest-rated British sparkler being Nyetimber, 2013 Blanc de Blanc.

Dry Still Wines

There was a total of 73 dry still wines that won gold medals. The top four countries that dominated this category were: Spain (7), France (12), Italy (28) and US (7). Together these four countries accounted for 54 of the 73 medalists.

The top ranked French wine was the Famille Carabello-Baum, 2018 Corton Grand Cru, Pinot Noir. The top ranked Italian wine was the Lagarbiana 2016 Barolo from G.D. Vajra.

The top-ranked Spanish wine was the Vina Arnaiz, 2016 Pata Negra Reserva, Ribera Del Duero.

US Winners

Naked Wines, an online subscription wine vendor won three gold medals for its 2018 Exposed Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Petite Sirah and the 2019 Pinot Noir. Among premium wine producers, Francis Ford Coppola Winery won a gold medal for its 2017 Director’s Cut Zinfandel and the 2018 Archimedes Cabernet Sauvignon.

There are a lot more winners to explore … you can find the complete list at the IWSC’s website https://bit.ly/3hHNRiK

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