The Global Wine Masters Competitions began in 2013 as an offshoot of the Drinks Business, the world’s leading magazine for the wine and spirits trade. The goal was to use their collective industry expertise to promote the world’s best wines.
“The Wine Masters take a distinct, new approach to the way wine is judged. Each competition showcases a key variety or style – such as Pinot Noir, sparkling or organic – and is open to wines from anywhere in the world. This means that preconceived notions of the importance of location are pushed aside, allowing wines from across the globe to be judged purely on style and price.”
Each tasting identifies the best examples of its grape category, from all around the world and from every price bracket, meaning a Bulgarian wine can be tasted alongside a Burgundian without prejudice or bias.
All competitions are tasted blind, with only the price bracket and the category revealed to the judges. Judging panels are comprised solely of Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, and senior buyers. They award medals ranging from Bronze through to Gold and, for a handful of exceptional examples, the title of Master.
The Grand Master is a special distinction introduced within The Global Wine Masters in 2025 to recognize the single most outstanding wine of the competition.
Judges assessed almost 4,000 wines across 33 standalone competitions this year, and they picked the best bottles from The Global Wine Masters 2025 – those few labels that were declared the leaders of their category.
“The only unifying factor among the following wines is that they are all outstanding examples of their type, whether canned wine or Cabernet Sauvignon.”
Here are the best of the best Global Wine Masters from 2025, with prices in Pound Sterling ($1.35 USD):
Global Wine Masters 2025 – Best of the Best
Best Rosé: Garrus Château d’Esclans | 2023 | Provence, France | 67% Grenache, 33% Rolle | 14% ABV | £100
D’esclans Rose
Best Champagne: Piper-Heidsieck 2018 Piper-Heidsieck | 2018 | Champagne, France | 50% Chardonnay, 47% Pinot Noir, 3% Meunier | 12% ABV | £80
Best Sparkling Wine: Ayala La Perle Champagne Ayala | 2015 | Champagne, France | 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir | 12% ABV | £140
Best Prosecco: Bisol 1542 Valdobbiadene Cartizze DOCG Dry Bisol 1542 | 2024 | Veneto, Italy | 100% Glera | 11.5% ABV | £36
Best Wine Under £10: Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier Viña Cono Sur | 2024 | Central Valley, Chile | 100% Viognier | 11% ABV | £5
Best Chenin Blanc: Spier 21 Gables Spier Wine Farm | 2023 | Coastal Region, South Africa | 100% Chenin Blanc | 14% ABV | £25
Best Pinot Gris: La Roncaia Pinot Grigio Friuli Colli Orientali La Roncaia | 2023 | Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy | 100% Pinot Grigio | 13.5% ABV | £30
Best Sauvignon Blanc: Potzinger, Ried Pössnitzberg Potzinger | 2024 | Steiermark, Austria | 100% Sauvignon Blanc | 13.5% ABV | £25
Best Riesling: Dr Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese Tradition Weingut Dr Loosen | 1993 | Mosel, Germany | 100% Riesling | 7.5% ABV | £45
Best Chardonnay: Platt Vineyard Estate Reserve Platt Vineyard | 2023 | Sonoma Coast, USA | 100% Chardonnay | 14.3% ABV | £185
Best Spring Tasting Wine: Pommery Cuvée Louise Pommery | 2006 | Champagne, France | 65% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir | 12.5% ABV | £200
Best Pinot Noir: Cloudy Bay Te Wahi Cloudy Bay | 2021 | Central Otago, New Zealand | Pinot Noir | 13.5% ABV | £73
Te Wahl Pinot Noir
Best Cabernet Franc: Jade Moon Hoosegg by Philip Shaw | 2019 | Orange, Australia | 100% Cabernet Franc | 13.4% ABV | £75
Best Merlot: Black Stallion Estate Winery Black Stallion Estate Winery | 2021 | Napa Valley, USA | 100% Merlot | 15% ABV | £75
Best Cabernet Sauvignon: Penfolds Bin 707 Penfolds | 2022 | South Australia, Australia | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon | 14.5% ABV | £450
Best Sangiovese: San Felice Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Felice | 2020 | Tuscany, Italy | 100% Sangiovese | 15% ABV | £65
Best Syrah: Wakefield The Pioneer Shiraz Wakefield Wines | 2021 | Clare Valley, Australia | 100% Shiraz | 14.5% ABV | £85
Best Organic Wine: Acciaiolo Castello di Albola | 2021 | Tuscany, Italy | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon | 14.5% ABV | £72
Best from La Place de Bordeaux: Morlet Family Vineyards Coeur de Vallée Morlet Family Vineyards | 2022 | Napa Valley, USA | 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc | 15.3% ABV | £290
Best Orange Wine: Signature Limited Edition Torrontés de Raíz Naranjo Susana Balbo | 2022 | Valle de Uco, Argentina | 100% Torrontés | 13.5% ABV | £70
Best Wine Packaging Design: STONEVIK VIK | 2024 | Cachapoal, Chile | 74% Cabernet Franc, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Carmenere | 14% ABV | £180
Best Malbec: Luigi Bosca Los Nobles Luigi Bosca | 2021 | Mendoza, Argentina | 94% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot | 14.5% ABV | £60
Best Wine in Travel Retail: Vulcaia Fumé Sauvignon Inama | 2022 | Veneto, Italy | 100% Sauvignon Blanc | 14% ABV | £58
Best Carmenere: Obliqua Ventisquero Wine Estates | 2022 | Colchagua, Chile | 90% Carmenere, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc | 14% ABV | £40
Best Wine from Autumn Tasting: Gloria Chardonnay Kollwentz | 2023 | Burgenland, Austria | 100% Chardonnay | 14% ABV | £73
Best Tuscan: Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia Bolgheri Superiore DOC Poggio al Tesoro | 2021 | Tuscany, Italy | 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc | 15% ABV | £75
Best Rioja: Hinia Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta | 2021 | Rioja, Spain | 100% Viura | 13% ABV | £80
Best Grenache: Perelada Aires de Garbet Perelada | 2021 | Catalunya, Spain | 100% Garnacha Tinta | 15% ABV | £69
Best Fortified Wine: Florio Marsala Dolce Superiore Riserva SD0294 Cantine Florio | 1994 | Sicilia, Italy | Grillo | 18.5% ABV | £200
Best Sweet Wine: Hermann Moser Welschriesling Trockebeerenauslese Weingut Hermann Moser | 2023 | Niederösterreich, Austria | 100% Welschriesling | 9.5% ABV | £50 (375ml)
Best Small Format Wine: Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Red NV Union des Vignerons des Côtes du Rhône | NV | Rhône Valley, France | 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah | 12% ABV | £3.50 (250ml can)
Best Low & No Wine: Chavin Zero Rosé Pierre Chavin | NV | France | 60% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, 20% Grenache | 0% ABV | £18
