The Global Wine Masters competition is one of my favorite resources for exploring wines from around the world in all price categories.

According to the site, “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 preconceived notions about the importance of location are set aside, allowing wines from around the world to be judged solely on style and price.”

All of its competitions are tasted blind, with only a price bracket and the category revealed to the judges. Judging panels include 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.

The two most decorated countries overall are South Africa (29 medals) and Australia (36 medals). Among regions, Marlborough (New Zealand, 14 medals), Adelaide Hills (Australia, 11 medals), and Stellenbosch (South Africa, 13 medals) lead the counts.

Judges noted the rising quality of Chardonnay from the Western Cape, South Africa, and at all price points, from the pleasingly affordable to the expensive. They said the wines did well because of their styles, “somewhere between generous and refreshing, with ripe fruit, but appealingly soft citric acidity and, with regard to oak and lees, an influence that brings toastiness, without being too creamy or excessively sulphidic.”

“Another country making increasingly good Chardonnay is Chile, while Argentina is a nation to watch for the grape, and cool-climate Australia delivers so much appeal, zesty and cleansing in character, and thankfully no longer too skinny.”

“Meanwhile, Sonoma is still a benchmark for Chardonnay from beyond Burgundy. And, within this county, there is a new source of greatness: the wines from Platt Vineyard, bottled under the name of this great place.” Platt’s Reserve was named the best wine of the competition, the Grand Master.

Cambria Chardonnay

Here are the Gold, Master, and Grand Master winners, grouped alphabetically by price category, in Pounds Sterling (approximately $1.32 in USD). Click through to the Wine Business site to see the silver and bronze winners.

£10-£15

  • Arínzano – Hacienda de Arínzano Chardonnay (Gold), Navarra, Spain, 2023
  • Cono Sur Winery – Organic Chardonnay (Gold), Chile, 2025
  • De Bortoli Wines – Buttery Chardonnay (Gold), Riverina, Australia, 2025
  • J García Carrión – Opera Prima Chardonnay (Gold), La Mancha, Spain, 2024
  • Kavaklidere Şarapları – Egeo Chardonnay (Gold), Aegean Region, Turkey, 2024
  • Langmeil Winery – Barossa High Road Chardonnay (Gold), South Australia, 2024
  • Stoneleigh – Latitude Chardonnay (Master), Marlborough, New Zealand, 2024
  • Wakefield/Taylors Wines – Estate Chardonnay (Gold), Padthaway, Australia, 2024

£15-£20

  • Blaauwklippen – Chardonnay (Gold), Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2024
  • Brancott Estate – Letter Series 0 Chardonnay (Gold), Marlborough, New Zealand, 2024
  • Cambria Estate Winery – Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay (Master), California, USA, 2023
  • De Wetshof Estate – Lesca Chardonnay (Gold), Robertson, South Africa, 2024
  • Kaiken – Ultra (Gold), Uco Valley & Luján de Cuyo, Argentina, 2023
  • Le Grand Domaine – The Pledge Our Barrels Chardonnay (Gold), Western Cape, South Africa, 2024
  • Salt Rock Wines – Stand Alone Chardonnay (Gold), Elgin, South Africa, 2024
  • St Hugo – Eden Valley Chardonnay (Gold), Barossa Valley, Australia, 2024

£20-£30

  • Capensis – Silene Chardonnay (Gold), Western Cape, South Africa, 2023
  • Church Road – Grand Reserve Chardonnay (Gold), Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, 2023
  • Cono Sur Winery – 20 Barrels Limited Edition Chardonnay (Gold), Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2024
  • d’Arenberg – The Lucky Lizard (Gold), McLaren Vale, Australia, 2022
  • Montes – Alpha Special Cuvée Chardonnay (Gold), Aconcagua, Chile, 2023
  • St Leger Wines – Chardonnay (Gold), Elgin, South Africa, 2022

    D’Arenberg Lucky Lizard

£30-£50

  • Arínzano – Pureza (Gold), Navarra, Spain, 2023
  • Babylonstoren – Chardonnay (Gold), Simonsberg-Paarl, South Africa, 2024
  • Casa Valduga – 130 Blanc de Blanc (Gold), Serra Gaúcha, Brazil, NV
  • Castello di Albola – Poggio alle Fate (Gold), Tuscany, Italy, 2022
  • Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte – Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs (Gold), Champagne, France, 2015
  • Delaire Graff Estate – Banghoek Chardonnay (Master), Banghoek, South Africa, 2024
  • Domaine Claudie Jobard – Montagny 1er Cru Madeleine (Gold), Burgundy, France, 2022
  • GlenWood Vineyards – Grand Duc Chardonnay (Gold), Franschhoek, South Africa, 2023
  • Journey’s End – Destination Chardonnay (Gold), Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2024
  • Lowestoft Estate Tasmania – Chardonnay (Gold), Tasmania, Australia, 2024
  • Marimar Estate – Acero Chardonnay (Gold), Russian River Valley, USA, 2023
  • Marimar Estate – La Masía Chardonnay (Gold), Russian River Valley, USA, 2023
  • Springfield Estate – Methode Ancienne Chardonnay (Gold), Robertson, South Africa, 2021
  • Tapanappa – Tiers 1.5M Vineyard (Gold), Adelaide Hills, Australia, 2024
  • Tapanappa – Tiers Vineyard (Gold), Adelaide Hills, Australia, 2024
  • Whalehaven – Seascape Reserve Chardonnay (Master), Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa, 2023

£50-£70

  • Champagne Abelé 1757 – Abelé 1757 Blanc de Blancs (Gold), Champagne, France, NV
  • Giant Steps – Circle of Fifths Chardonnay (Master), Yarra Valley, Australia, 2024

£70-£100

  • Penfolds – Reserve Bin A (Gold), Adelaide Hills, Australia, 2024
  • Platt Vineyard – Estate Chardonnay West Sonoma Coast (Gold), Sonoma Coast, USA, 2023

£100+

  • Penfolds – Yattarna (Master), Tumbarumba, Adelaide Hills, Tasmania, Australia, 2023
  • Platt Vineyard – Estate Reserve Chardonnay West Sonoma Coast (Grand Master), Sonoma Coast, USA, 2023