The industry's annual national wine awards - The English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition – have delivered some of the best ever numbers of medals.

Despite the marginally lower number of entrants compared to last year – reflecting the slightly lower production in 2015 – the number of Gold medals was nearly 60% up and the highest over the last 5 years of the competition. Nonetheless, the competition has seen a progressive growth in entrants over the years, this year attracting 305 wines from 94 producers from across England and Wales.

258 medals were awarded across the style categories, representing nearly 85% of all entries, which included 32 Gold, 121 Silver and 105 Bronze medals. Overall, still wines dominated the entries and medal gains, with 216 still white, rosé and red wines entered, gaining just over 70% of all the medals. 87 sparkling wines were entered, representing just under 30% of the medals.

Organised and run by the United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA) and for a second year sponsored by Waitrose, the Competition is an opportunity for producers of all sizes and from across England and Wales to compete against each other. This year's entrants included some of the UK's largest producers to smaller and first-time producers. The wines were judged over two days at Llanerch Vineyard near Cardiff by a team of five Masters of Wine and marked to international professional standards. Chaired by David Bird MW, the panel also comprised: Robin Crameri MW, Rebecca Hull MW, Angela Muir MW and Patricia Stefanowicz MW.

The Gold medals alone reflected the diversity of size and style now produced in England as well as a wide geographic spread. Successes this year included a still white from one of England's most northerly vineyards, Leventhorpe Vineyard, and a sparkling wine from a one acre vineyard in Hampshire – East Meon Vineyard.

The different style categories of wines and volumes produced are acknowledged in the13 Trophies that are also awarded.

Once again it is wines produced from the UK's top three most widely planted grape varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Bacchus – that dominated the trophies awarded, with Bacchus a clear winner. Three trophies were awarded to a 2015 Bacchus from Norfolk's Winbirri Vineyard, which scooped the Trophy for Most Outstanding Large Production Wine from 2015 vintage, Most Outstanding Single Variety Wine and Most Outstanding Unchaptalised Wine.

Further Bacchus success was won by Furleigh Estate in Dorset whose 2014 Bacchus Fumé won Most Outstanding Oaked White Wine and Most Outstanding Large Production Wine (Any year other than 2015). Additionally, Camel Valley Bacchus Dry 2015 won the Most Outstanding Large Production Wine (over 10,000 litres).

The Most Outstanding Sparkling Wine Trophy was won by Dorset sparkling wine producer Langham Wine Estate, further continuing its competition success, having won the same trophy last year with another wine from its stable. The Most Outstanding Sparkling Rosé Wine Trophy was won byHattingley Valley in Hampshire. Both wines are produced with the three traditional Champagne varieties.

Pinot Noir was also a proven winner in the still wine stakes, with Kent's Gusbourne Estate Pinot Noir 2014 taking the Most Outstanding Red Wine, with the Most Outstanding Still Rosé Wine trophygoing to first time producer Oxney Organic Estate from Sussex.

Sweet wines also have their own trophy - Most Outstanding Sweet Wine – which this year was won byDenbies Wine Estate Noble Harvest 2014, continuing the outstanding success of earlier vintages of this wine in a number of competitions.

A Best Presented Trophy is awarded to a bottle for its overall presentation – this year the winner isFenny Castle Barrel Fermented Ortega 2015.

This year, to mark the competition judging having taken place in Wales, a Welsh Wine of the Year Trophy has been sponsored by the Welsh Government. The winner of this award is Parva Farm Vineyard Dathliad 2013, a sparkling wine from Tintern in South Wales.

David Bird MW, Chair of Judges, and a long standing member of the judging team, commented on how impressed he was by the standard of entries. “This year the competition went very smoothly, despite the large number of wines. The team of judges worked extremely well. They all taste internationally and apply international standards.

“The high level of medals achieved is a measure of the high standard that winemaking in the UK has reached. The joy of the competition this year is that we were struggling not to award golds everywhere!”

Commenting on the competition, Barry Lewis, CEO of UKVA said: “This year's high number of entrants into the competition reflects a growing confidence within the industry. I'm delighted with the results and pleased that the judges noted the overall consistency of quality. I'd like to thank the Welsh Vineyard Association and Llanerch Vineyard, for being amazing hosts.”

There are three remaining trophies yet to be unveiled and will be announced at the industry's annual awards lunch, taking place on 12th July at Vintners' Hall: the prestigious Winemaker of the Year (The McAlpine Trophy) and the Wine of the Year Trophy (The Gore-Browne Trophy) together with the English Wine Producers Communicator of the Year Trophy.

The results in full will shortly be available on www.englishwineproducers.com and www.ukva.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
The English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition is organised by the United Kingdom Vineyards Association, and this year took place at Llanerch Vineyard, hosted by the Welsh Vineyards Association. Each year the competition is hosted by a different vineyard region of the UK.

The English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition is the only competition in the world judged entirely and only ever by Masters of Wine, bringing with them their wealth of experience, expertise and tasting to international standards.

The EWP Communicator of the Year Trophy recognises the contribution to the UK wine industry that is made by so many and is presented to an individual or business outside the wine industry that has, through their work, raised awareness in the industry and its wines. Nominations for this award are submitted by members of the industry and the winner is selected by a panel of English Wine Producers member producers

Interviews with the organisers or the Chairman of Judges can be arranged. Please contact Jo Cowderoy, United Kingdom Vineyards Association, tel: 07904 011331 or email jo@ukva.org.uk, or Julia Trustram Eve, English Wine Producers, tel: 01536 772264 or emailjulia@englishwineproducers.com

A copy of the full results can be downloaded by clicking the link at the bottom of the page

The following trophies were awarded:

Jack Ward Memorial Salver - The most outstanding large production wine – 2015 vintage
Winbirri Bacchus 2015

Wine Guild Trophy - The most outstanding large production wine – any other year
Furleigh Bacchus Fumé 2014

President's Trophy - The most outstanding small production wine (Langham Wine Estate Classic Cuvée Reserve 2011

Dudley Quirk Memorial Trophy - The most outstanding large production wine (>10,000 litres)
Camel Valley Bacchus Dry 2015

Vintners' Trophy - The most outstanding sparkling wine
Langham Wine Estate Classic Cuvée Reserve 2011

Bernard Theobald Trophy - The most outstanding red wine
Gusbourne Pinot Noir 2014

McNie Trophy - The most outstanding oaked white wine
Furleigh Bacchus Fumé 2014

Tom Day Trophy - The most outstanding single varietal wine
Winbirri Bacchus 2015

Waitrose Rosé Trophy - The most outstanding still rosé wine
Oxney Organic Estate English Pinot Noir Rosé 2015

Bob Lindo Trophy - The most outstanding sparkling rosé wine
Hattingley Valley Rosé 2013

Berwick Trophy - The most outstanding large production unchaptalised still wine
Winbirri Bacchus 2015

Stefanowicz Trophy – The most outstanding sweet wine
Denbies Noble Harvest 2014

Welsh Wine of the Year Trophy – The most outstanding Welsh Wine
Parva Farm Vineyard Dathliad 2013

Montagu Trophy - Best presented wine
Fenny Castle Barrel Fermented Ortega 2015