Global Fine Wine Challenge 2023 results
By Christian Eedes, 4 December 2023
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Results of this year’s Global Fine Wine Challenge between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA have been announced.
There are selectors from each participating country, with Michael Fridjhon representing South Africa, and each judge is set the task of picking 120 wines across a potential 22 classes. A trophy is awarded for the top scoring wine in each class.
Top trophies
Wine of Show: Pirie Late Disgorged Sparkling 2011
White Wine of Show: Lake Chalice Wines Plume Chardonnay 2020 – New Zealand
Red Wine of Show: Giant Steps Fatal Shore Pinot Noir 2022 – Australia
Nation of show
Only 19 wines were awarded a prestigious Trophy medal. There were also 22 Runner-Up Double Gold, 68 Double Gold and 122 Gold medals awarded. Australia was nation of show with 6 Trophies, 7 Runner-up Double Golds, 18 Double Golds and 29 Golds.
Trophy winners by country
6 – Australia
5 – New Zealand
5 – South Africa
2 – Canada
1 – USA
South African trophies
Stellenrust 58 Barrel Fernented Chenin Blanc 2022
Tokara Directors Reserve White 2020
Bacco Estate Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
Donkiesbaai Grenache 2021
Zorgvliet Cabernet Franc 2020
SA Runner-Up Double Gold
Bellingham Bernard Series Chenin Blanc 2022
Cederberg Shiraz 2020
Delaire Graff The Banghoek Bordeaux Blend 2018
Erika Obermeyer Erika O. Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
SA Double Gold
Sparkling
Canto Wines MCC Brut Chardonnay 2020
White
Groot Phesantekraal Anna de Koning Limited Edition Chenin Blanc 2022
Vrede en Lust Kogelberg Chenin Blanc 2022
Red
Kleine Zalze Wines Vineyard Selection Grenache 2022
Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve 2022
Doolhof Single Vineyard Malbec 2022
Glen Carlou The Glen Carlou Collection Malbec 2018
Glenelly Lady May 2018
Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Silver Myn Argentum 2021 (Zorgvliet)
Simonsig Tiara 2019
Waterford Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Established in 2003, the Global Fine Wine Challenge (GFWC), formerly Six Nations Wine Challenge, focuses on the New World, participation by invitation only. Wines are selected and invited to represent their respective nations, by leading international wine critics, these being:
Huon Hooke (Australia)
Christopher Waters (Canada)
Michael Fridjhon (South Africa),
Jane Skilton MW (New Zealand)
Anthony Mueller and Virginie Boone (USA)
The 2023 Challenge was judged blind by Toni Paterson MW, Jane Skilton MW, Huon Hooke and Anthony Mueller. Judging took place during mid-November in Sydney, Australia.
- Winemag.co.za is the Global Fine Wine Challenge’s South African media partner. Find out more here.
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Daniel Hough | 5 December 2023
I wonder how many of last week’s “Top Twenty” were included in this Challenge?
Mike Froud of Top Wine SA | 10 December 2023
Those among Winemag’s Top 20 producers who participated in the Global Fine Wine Challenge – by invitation of Michael Fridjhon – were: Boekenhoutskloof, Kanonkop, Kershaw, Klein Constantia and Restless River. It would be interesting to know who turned down an invitation, and who among the Winemag Top 20 weren’t invited. All very confidential of course.
Mike Froud, Top Wine SA | 5 December 2023
The Global Fine Wine Challenge involved more than 120 wines per country and a different number of wines from each country? Also, on one hand we’re told that the Challenge is accessible by invitation only, but on the other we see that producers can request to be considered? Congrat’s to the top SA producers who featured, especially to Stellenrust and Tokara, Bacco, Zorgvliet and Guardian Peak/Rust en Vrede (Donkiesbaai), but as the Challenge organisers in Oz aren’t answering their mail, perhaps their SA media partner can comment…
Kwispedoor | 4 December 2023
Generally, Mueller has been a bit stingy with his South African wine scores. After this blind tasting, will he score American wines lower or SA wines higher henceforth? A rhetorical question, of course.