France Dominates 33rd Chardonnay du Monde as Barrel-Aged Wines Lead Gold Medal Wins

The 33rd edition of the international Chardonnay du Monde competition took place from March 10 to 12 in Burgundy, France. This annual event is dedicated exclusively to wines made from the Chardonnay grape and brought together 471 entries from 25 countries, highlighting both the global reach and diversity of this variety. The competition is recognized for its rigorous evaluation process and international scope. A panel of 200 international experts, all specially trained for this event, judged the wines under strict quality standards and optimal tasting conditions. Over the history of the competition, more than 700 judges have received this training, ensuring consistency and reliability in the results.

This year, a total of 155 medals were awarded: 74 gold and 81 silver. These distinctions are widely regarded as a reliable benchmark for selecting quality Chardonnay wines in the global market. The full list of award-winning wines and the breakdown of medals by country are available on the official website of the competition.

France, as host country, led the gold medal count with strong representation from Burgundy appellations such as Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru, Meursault Premier Cru, Chablis Premier Cru and Mâcon villages. Notable producers included Georges Duboeuf, Domaine du Château de Meursault and Domaine du Château du Val de Mercy. The awards also recognized a broad range of Pays d’Oc IGP wines as well as Crémant and Champagne houses. Several Champagne producers earned gold medals for their Blanc de Blancs sparkling wines, underlining Chardonnay’s importance in this category.

Outside France, South Africa achieved three gold medals with entries from Douglas Green Wines, De Wetshof Estate and Mont Rochelle Mountain Vineyards. These awards reflect South Africa’s ongoing investment in both fresh and barrel-aged Chardonnay styles. Australia was also prominent among the winners; Wakefield Taylors Wines received two gold medals for barrel-aged Chardonnays from different vintages, reinforcing Australia’s reputation for structured, oak-influenced expressions.

In South America, Brazil stood out with multiple awards for both still and sparkling Chardonnays produced by Amitié, Cooperativa Vinícola Garibaldi and Cooperativa Vinícola São João. Chile was represented by Viña La Rosa, which won gold for a Gran Reserva Chardonnay from Peumo.

North American producers also made their mark. Canadian wineries Arterra Wines and Two Sisters Vineyards took home gold medals for wines from British Columbia and Ontario, including both sparkling Blanc de Blancs and unoaked styles.

Asia’s presence at the competition continued to grow. China’s Ningxia Mihope Winery earned recognition alongside several Japanese producers such as Château Mercian and St. Cousair. Lebanon’s Château Ksara also secured a gold medal. Most of these Asian winners were awarded for barrel-aged Chardonnays, reflecting increasing technical expertise in these regions.

Southern and Eastern Europe were represented among the gold medalists as well. Spain collected several golds from appellations including Navarra, La Mancha and Somontano. Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Slovenia each received recognition for both classic and oak-aged interpretations of Chardonnay.

Barrel-aged Chardonnays dominated among this year’s gold medalists, but unoaked and sparkling styles were also well represented. This diversity highlights not only the adaptability of Chardonnay but also the wide range of terroirs and winemaking approaches showcased at this year’s competition. The results confirm Chardonnay du Monde’s status as a key reference point for producers and consumers worldwide who seek quality in this versatile grape variety.