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France still dominates IWC medal table, as it is awarded the most gongs

Published:  13 May, 2015

France took home the greatest number of International Wine Challenge 2015 awards, sweeping a total of 1,237 accolades, with 111 French wine producers winning gold medals.

It took home 412 awards more than the second most award country this year, Australia.

"France continues to dominate the medal table, and cement its position as winemaking champion of the world," said Charles Metcalfe, the co-chairman of the IWC. "We have had a splendid haul of medals from France this year, with Burgundy and Champagne excelling as ever."

Burgundy and Champagne tied as France's most awarded gold medal winning regions, each scooping 31 top gongs.

Helping Burgundy rack up its total was Domaine de la Vougeraie which picked up a haul of eight golds, three silvers and a bronze medal. Four whites wines from the estate were award gold medals, including the 2012 Beaune and the 2012 Savigny-lès-Beaune. It also also received four gold medals for its reds, including its 2013 Chambolle-Musigny and 2013 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru "Clos de Thorey" Monopole.

Champagne also was heavily awarded, receiving 31 gold medals overall. Champagne house Charles Heidsieck picked up the highest number of golds, with a total of five, including three for its 1983, 1985 and 1995 Blanc des Millénaires vintage champagnes.

Tesco finest* Vintage Grand Cru Champagne 2007, made for the retailer by Union Champagne, also struck gold.

Cave de Roquebrun, from St-Chinian in the Languedoc took home six gold medals for its reds, including the 2012 Les Fiefs d'Aupenac and the 2014 Terrasses de Mayline, as well as a further eight silvers and eight bronzes.

"France's co-ops are in great shape too, with good medal hauls from co-ops as far apart as Alsace, Champagne, Chablis and the Languedoc,"  Metcalfe said.

Chablis was also a stand out region at the IWC 2015 hauling 10 gold medals, while Bordeaux took home a seven golds, 35 silvers and 78 bronzes.

"Bordeaux made a bit of a comeback this year," Metcalfe noted.

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