How IWC success boosted our business

IWC White Winemaker of the Year 2024

Estelle Roy from La Chablisienne, France


La Chablisienne’s Estelle Roy was named IWC White Winemaker of the Year following an outstanding performance in the 2024 competition. The winery collected 18 medals and all three of the trophies awarded to Chablis.
Estelle told Canopy: “Winning the title of Best White Winemaker at the IWC is a moment of immense pride for us. It reflects the dedication, teamwork, and passion of our 200 families at La Chablisienne, all working together to uphold the legacy of our terroirs. This recognition underscores our commitment to crafting wines that resonate with quality, authenticity, and the essence of Chablis.

‘This accolade has been transformative for our winery’

“This accolade has been transformative for our winery. It has not only strengthened our visibility in the global market but also deepened the trust and enthusiasm of our partners and customers. Such recognition fuels our resolve to innovate while staying rooted in tradition, and it opens doors to new opportunities for growth and collaboration.
“As we continue to celebrate, I’d also like to share some updates about our journey and future. Despite a challenging 2024 harvest with a significant drop in volumes, we are proud of the quality of this vintage. Classic Chablis characteristics – elevated acidity, sharpness balanced by fruit and roundness – shine through in the 2024 wines.
“We’ve acquired a 13,000sq m natural cellar near Irancy, offering optimal conditions for storing our wines and a unique destination for visitors (below).
“La Chablisienne has also opened a wine shop in Paris, La Cave Saint Paul, creating a welcoming space for tastings and meetings in the heart of the city.”

IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year 2024

Ed Carr from House of Arras, Australia


For the first time in IWC history, an Australian producer was named IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year in 2024. Ed Carr, head winemaker at Tasmania’s House of Arras, took home the prestigious title, marking only the second time it has gone to a producer outside Champagne.
House of Arras’s sparkling wines picked up 12 medals in last year’s Challenge, as well as the Australian Sparkling Trophy for its Blanc de Blancs 2014 – described by judges as “a great example of a sparkler tasting like a really serious wine in its own right with bubbles as an extra”.
Ed told Canopy: “I am now back to the reality of a rapidly approaching harvest in Tasmania, and currently we appear to have strong fruit yields and now need the sunshine to continue to get us across the start – and finish – line.
“The IWC awards in terms of medals and ultimately Sparkling Winemaker of the Year has been one of the true highlights of the near 30 years since the first harvest for Arras.
“They are a spectacular endorsement of the quality of the wines of the House of Arras and the diligence of the team that continues to make the wines from the vineyard to the glass in hand of the consumer.
“To be selected from such a strong pool of global peers in premium sparkling winemaking is an absolutely massive honour. I cannot overstate the personal pride in receiving such a prestigious award but always revert to considering the dedication of the team over the years that oversee all the detail in making this happen.

‘I consider it to be priceless’

“The ongoing primary and secondary media from the IWC award has been absolutely brilliant and still continues across all facets of wine journalism.
“It is difficult to quantify the value of receiving the Sparkling Winemaker of the Year award but as part of the evolution of the House of Arras into a recognised global brand, I consider it to be priceless.”
As for news, Ed reminded me that 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the first harvest for the House of Arras. For the occasion, there will be the release of a special anniversary wine and celebrations around the world.

IWC Sweet Winemaker of the Year 2024

Hans Tschida from Weingut Angerhof Tschida, Austria


Burgenland producer Hans Tschida once again displayed his excellence in sweet winemaking. For the fourth year in a row, the winemaker from Austria’s Weingut Angerhof Tschida was awarded the IWC Sweet Winemaker of the Year title. Hans has now won this award 10 times since 2010. In last year’s Challenge, his sweet wines received nine gold medals, seven silvers, three bronzes and one coveted trophy.

‘This recognition has allowed us to gain significant prominence both nationally and internationally’

Hans told Canopy: “It is a tremendous honour and an incredible achievement to be named Sweet Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge for the tenth time. This recognition fills me with immense pride and gratitude.
“For our winery, this represents the highest distinction one can achieve. This recognition has allowed us to gain significant prominence both nationally and internationally.”

IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year 2018

Cherie Spriggs of Nyetimber, England


For more than 36 years, Nyetimber has had a single aim: crafting exceptional English sparkling wine that rivals the very best in the world. Head winemaker Cherie Spriggs was named IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year in 2018 – the only woman and the first of only two winemakers outside the Champagne region to win this prestigious award.

'The IWC offers an amazing seal of approval'

Eric Heerema, owner and CEO of Nyetimber, told Canopy: "An IWC award is an incredible accolade for a wine producer to receive and we are honoured to have won a range of gold medals and trophies over the years. The IWC offers an amazing seal of approval from some of the leading Masters of Wine and other leading experts in the wine industry. The awards confirm the high quality of our English sparkling wines, as well as of our growing industry on a global scale, and can help to attract more people to this fantastic category.
“Whilst we build recognition for our sparkling wines via awards such as these, we have also been growing awareness for the Nyetimber brand through some incredible partnerships and activations. Last year, Nyetimber was the official sparkling wine of Team GB for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and we have just announced our exclusive sparkling wine partnership with the Royal Thames Yacht Club, coinciding with the club’s 250th anniversary. This year, we are also continuing our renowned sponsorships of Henley Royal Regatta, Queen's Tennis and the Jockey Club events to name a few.”