Avenue Vine

Submissions were received from 1,435 companies, marking an increase of 15% on the previous year. With a decrease in the numbers of wines entered per submitter and the improved medal results, it is clear that companies are paying even greater attention to their submissions and concentrating on wines of higher quality.

The top three medal winning nations this year are France (696), Australia (587) and Spain (381). France scooped the most medals with a total of 696. Australia may well have fewer medals, but it is gaining ground, picking up an extra 101 medals from the previous year. Other countries with notable increases were Austria (up 58%), Canada (up 128%) and the Eastern European Countries of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia.

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This year the quality of the best French wines really shone through. France took home the most Golds, 60 this year up from 48 in 2007, representing an increase of 36%. As it did last year, Australia came second in the Gold medal tally (48 up from 39 last year). Portugal again came third with 30 Gold medals. New Zealand's Gold medal performance was also impressive this year. It was awarded 22 Gold medals, as opposed to 15 in 2007 (an increase of 46.7%). Argentina has been tipped as the one to watch as it doubled its Gold medal haul from 4 in 2007 to 8 in 2008.

This year wines were received from 39 countries, more than ever before. Countries claiming their first awards in 2008 were: Brazil (17), Denmark (2), India (4), Malta (6), Tunisia (1), Turkey (5) and Ukraine (1).

English wines continue to show improved form (10 medals in 2005, 16 medals in 2006, 21 in 2007 and 22 in 2008). This year's single UK Gold goes to Balfour Brut Rosé 2004 the Kent vineyard's sparkling wine. Despite the exceptionally wet weather last year, the 2007 vintage still proved to be of good quality with 7 Bronze medals awarded.

The judges were not only impressed by the high quality of entries but also by the consistency of winemaking as indicated by the numbers of wines winning "follow-on" Golds. For example, Beaune Clos Des Mouches Premier Cru won a Gold medal in 2007 for its 2005 vintage and again this year for its 2006 vintage.

Japanese sake entries increased exponentially last year with 228 entries. This year as a result of the marketing success achieved for the medal winners, entries increased further to 313. Of these 149 were awarded medals including 13 Golds. Japanese grape wines were also entered for the first time with 2 Bronze medals achieved.

UK consumers will have plenty of opportunity to pick an award winning wine. Last year's IWC Supermarket of the Year Tesco claimed the most medals (151) while Waitrose currently stocks the most Gold (15) and Silver (50) medals. Marks & Spencer (with 155) and Sainsbury's (with 225 medal-winning and commended wines) will also see their shelves heaving with rigorously judged bottles.

This year's results were announced at the London International Wine Fair by famed footballer David Ginola who entered his first wines from the Coste Brulade domain. An excellent debut performance, all three wines picked up awards with the Coste Brulade rosé picking up a coveted Silver. David Ginola was not the only well-known person to have entered his wines and walk away with an award, others included film director Francis Ford Coppola, golfer Ernie Els, singer Cliff Richard and motoring broadcaster Quentin Willson.

To ensure the highest quality of judging and consistency throughout, 2008 saw the introduction of 20 Panel Chairmen, a core group of tasters, responsible for leading their panel of judges for all nine days of the competition. The Panel Chairmen are the best of the best. They are Masters of Wine, winemakers and experienced wine writers. They supported the five Co-Chairmen - Charles Metcalfe, Derek Smedley MW, Sam Harrop MW, Tim Atkin MW and 2008's International Co-Chairman for 2008 is New Zealand's Bob Campbell MW.

Via the official website for the competition www.internationalwinechallenge.com everyone can take advantage of the tasting skills of the 400 judges and 5 Co-Chairmen. Judges' comments on each medal winning wine are reproduced to aid selection. UK consumers can also search by their preferred retailer and price.

London, Spoon Public Relations and Marketing, May 22, 2008