Full Breakdown
Record-Breaking Results at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards
6/19/2026, 2:59:30 AM
Core Event: Record-Breaking Results
The 23rd Decanter World Wine Awards announced its 2026 results on 17 June. Over 17,000 entries from 58 nations were judged in three blind-tasting stages, yielding 254 awards for France, a record U.S. performance and several first-time achievements.
Background & Context: Scale and Judging Process
The competition, world’s largest wine contest, uses 245 judges—including 63 Masters of Wine and 24 Master Sommeliers—to assess all entries, re-taste Gold winners for Platinum, and have five Co-Chairs evaluate Platinum wines for Best in Show, top 0.3 %.
Data & Statistics: Medal Tally Highlights
France led with 254 awards (Best in Show, Platinum, Gold). Italy followed with 144, and Spain posted its strongest haul, including five Best in Show titles. The United States recorded a best of two Best in Show, five Platinum and 32 Gold medals, totaling 466—almost double previous high. Brazil set a new record with four Gold, 88 Silver and 133 Bronze medals.
Key Firsts and Regional Breakthroughs
Texas won first Gold medals for Sousão, Tannat and Tempranillo. Essex, England, earned five medals, including a Silver for Pinot Noir, prompting judges to label Essex Pinot Noir “the next big thing.” The UK led with a Best in Show for Balfour Blanc de Blancs (Kent 2018). Austria secured two Best in Show wines for the first time since 2023; Switzerland recorded its first Best in Show red. Japan claimed its first Gold from Hiroshima.
Official Statements & Responses
Judge Pierre Mansour called the results a “golden era” and said great wines come from “every corner of the world.” Co-Chair Beth Willard said Value wines “reflect the best of the wines available in major retail.” Regional Chair James Tidwell praised Texas for “exceeding expectations.” Co-Chair Ronan Sayburn called a DWWA medal “trusted, recognizable, and hard to fake.”
Criticism & Opposition
The sources contain no reported criticism or dissent regarding the awards or judging process.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There’s never been a better time to be a wine drinker,” — Pierre Mansour, Judge and Regional Chair
- “What the results demonstrate is that you’ve got great wines coming from pretty much every corner of the world,” — Pierre Mansour
- “DWWA Co-Chair, Beth Willard commented: ‘The Value wines are really important in the competition because they reflect the best of the wines available in major retail, supermarkets and independent retailers where most people shop.” — Beth Willard, DWWA Co-Chair
- “DWWA Co-Chair Ronan Sayburn, MS, framed what these results mean for consumers: in a crowded global wine market, a DWWA medal is trusted, recognizable, and hard to fake.” — Ronan Sayburn, DWWA Co-Chair
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on medal counts and first-time achievements; no contradictions or notable gaps were identified.
