Rosé & Orange Wines: Why IWSC Silver Medals Reflect Serious Quality and Craft

Some brands celebrate only their Gold medal wins, treating anything less as unworthy of mention. At the IWSC, we encourage a different perspective. Just as a Michelin one-star is a mark of outstanding quality, respected every bit as much as a two- or three-star, we believe an IWSC Silver deserves the same level of recognition and pride. It's certainly not a consolation prize. Our judges hold Silver medal-winning wines to exceptionally high standards, especially in categories like rosé and orange wine.

This year's judging panels assessed rosé and orange wines made from over 32 different grape varieties. Among rosé entries, 20% of recommended wines achieved Silver status across nine countries. France led the way, with Provence rosé alone accounting for half of all Silver medals in the category.

"Silver wines are textbook examples of their kind," said Dirceu Vianna Junior MW. "They show typicity, balance and are the kind of wines you'd use in a masterclass or pour for a client to demonstrate what the category does best."

The diversity within rosé stood out. Beyond Provence, judges were excited by the growing quality of English rosé, which earned three Silver medals. Louise Gordon remarked, "English rosé performed better than expected, with some lovely examples from different regions and grape varieties." Judges were struck by the quality and stylistic variation, a sign that English producers are moving beyond imitation and embracing their own identity.

Clear technical trends emerged. Martina Pokorná observed that "the 'Mediterranean' or 'Provence' style still dominates the category, but the brave and different truly stand out." This was reflected in comments on Côteaux Varois en Provence, which impressed for its precision and vibrancy.

Orange wines continue to build credibility at the IWSC. This year, five were awarded Silver medals, all showcasing depth and deft balance of structure and freshness. Georgia, the spiritual home of skin-contact wines, dominated with traditional qvevri-fermented Rkatsiteli examples earning praise for their aromatic complexity and textural finesse. Innovation also impressed, with a Grüner Veltliner orange wine from Austria standing out for its clarity and restraint.

For producers, an IWSC Silver medal is a mark of quality to promote with pride, equivalent to a Gold in other competitions. Whether it's a gastronomic rosé or a contemplative amber-hued orange, these Silver medal winners prove there's serious craft behind the colour.

The Orange and Rose wines awarded Silver Medals scoring (94 & 93 points) follow. To explore the remaining Rose and Orange Silver Medal wines (90 to 92 points) and complete IWSC results visit our website.