Announcing its 2022 medal results, the IWSC, the world’s most established wine awards, is delighted to see further advancement of China’s comparatively youthful wine production industry.

Chinese wine entries received 133 medals at this year’s awards: 32 silver medals and 101 bronze medals.

Sarah Abbott, Master of Wine, and member of the IWSC’s Wine Judging Committee oversaw this year’s judging panels for China. She commented: “From China we are seeing a growing confidence from the producers in their winemaking. The wines reflect a growing subtlety: an element of this will be the vines becoming more established, but across the board we are seeing a better balance between harnessing the vibrant fruit characteristics, with a more refined, tannic extraction. Additionally, the wines are displaying a better understanding of balance in terms of alcohol and oak.

She adds: “What is also interesting to observe is the growing diversity of grape varieties coming through. In previous years entries were dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. But there are now reds from varieties including Blaufr?nkisch and Dornfelder, the kind of varieties that are developed for a shorter growing season. We also had wines from other more internationally recognised red grape varieties including Marselan and Syrah as well as some good wines made from Malbec. For whites, Chardonnay performed well. We’re seeing an improvement each in the quality and sophistication coming from producers across China, and this is reflected in the medals.”

Entries were received from 25 different grape varieties, from producers across nine regions. “There is a real sense of growing confidence in the wine making in China, producers are taking the foot of the gas and allowing the quality of the fruit and terroir to come through,” concludes Sarah.