The 2025 Wine of the Year has been announced at the London Wine Competition, with Australia taking out the top trophy!

Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay 2022 scored 98 points in the competition, taking out a Gold Medal and Chardonnay of the Year in addition to overall Wine of the Year.

The judges described the wine as: “Pale gold in the glass with flinty, reductive notes and bright citrus. The palate offers lees texture, melon fruit, and a clean, pithy finish with structure and finesse.

“Congratulations to the production and commercial teams behind this beautiful release — you’ve truly earned your place on tables, wine lists and cellars around the world.”

Isabel Estate is based in the Marlborough region and is part of Endeavour Drinks Group’s premium wine division, Paragon Wine Estates.

The London Wine Competition spotlights wines that excel not only in exceptional quality but also in delivering outstanding value and compelling packaging. By evaluating wines through the lens of real-world consumer appeal, the competition aims to ensure that awarded wines resonate with both trade professionals and everyday wine enthusiasts.

“This competition continues to evolve and raise the bar. The calibre of judges we’ve assembled, from Master Sommeliers to major buyers and MWs, is truly extraordinary,” said London Wine Competition founder Sid Patel.

Taylors Wines also triumphed, taking out Shiraz Of The Year for their 2023 Jaraman Shiraz. It follows Jaraman Shiraz 2022 being crowned ‘Champion Red’ and awarded a near-perfect 99-point score at the prestigious 2024 VINUS Wine & Spirits Competition.

““The Jaraman wines are an ode to the incredible terroir of our famed winemaking regions across Australia and we feel so proud to have our backyard acknowledged once again on the world stage for premium wine,” Taylors Managing Director Mitchell Taylor said.

Additionally, Australia won Best Wine by Packaging, with 2021 Little Giant The Remarkables 105 y.o, while Own Label of the Year went to Beyond the Wilderness Riesling from Coles Liquor.

Learn more here.