The Red Wine Regions Winning Big in 2025

Red wine's traditional powerhouses faced unexpected competition at IWSC 2025, with emerging regions challenging established hierarchies and forgotten grapes finding their voice. Our Silver medal results tell a story of a category in transition, where quality no longer follows predictable patterns.

Spain Leads the Charge

Spain claimed the top spot with 51 Silver medals, but the real story lies in where these wines originated. Beyond the expected Rioja excellence, Navarra and Castilla y León emerged as serious contenders, with Tempranillo and Garnacha proving that Spain's regional diversity runs deeper than many realise.

The Languedoc Moment

France's 47 Silver medals were dominated by an unlikely hero: Languedoc-Roussillon claimed 16 medals, outperforming prestigious Bordeaux (7 medals) by more than double. This southern French region's value-driven approach is clearly paying dividends, whilst the Rhône's Syrah-based blends secured 9 medals, proving that terroir expression trumps reputation.

Unexpected New World Players

The most compelling narrative emerged from unexpected quarters. Canada and Japan each secured 13 Silver medals - signalling a seismic shift in global red wine quality. Canada's elegant reds from British Columbia and Ontario are finding their voice, whilst Japan's precise Pinot Noir and Koshu-based blends from Yamanashi and Nagano are redefining what we expect from Japanese viticulture.

Georgia's 11 medals for inky, age-worthy Saperavi continue to challenge preconceptions, whilst Mexico's 4 medals from bold Baja California reds suggest North American wine geography is expanding beyond traditional boundaries.

The Grape Hierarchy

Cabernet Sauvignon's dominance remained unshaken with 79 Silver medals globally, but Syrah's 52 medals showcased stylistic breadth from Rhône to Barossa. Pinot Noir (45), Tempranillo (44) and Merlot (40) rounded out the top five, proving that classic varieties still drive quality.

The established order also held strong: Australia (48 medals), Italy (45 medals) and Portugal (42 medals) demonstrated that experience still matters. Australia's Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon shone across classic and emerging regions, whilst Italy balanced northern classics with southern gems like Nero d'Avola and Aglianico. Portugal's impressive medal count highlighted the rising status of dry red blends beyond the country's fortified wine reputation.

As IWSC judge Alex Hunt MW noted, "When it comes to awarding medals, what we're really looking for is expression of the grape... the purity of the raw material. That's what should be doing 90% of the work." This year's Silver medal winners prove that when grape, place and precision converge, excellence can emerge from anywhere.

The following are the red wines awarded 94 and 93 points in this year's competition, grouped by region. To explore the full list of Silver medal visit our website.