DWWA 2026 results out
(Image credit: Lauren Mclean / Decanter)

The Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2026 Top 50 Best in Show wines have been revealed, following yesterday’s publication of the full competition results.

The selection has been drawn from an initial pool of nearly 17,000 wines, with just 50 ultimately awarded the title Best in Show – the competition’s highest honour and among the most sought-after accolades in the wine world.

Representing only 0.3% of all wines tasted, these exceptional bottles have progressed through a demanding multi-stage judging process to emerge as the definitive standouts of the year. They are wines of remarkable quality, authenticity and character – and, once announced, are often snapped up by collectors, the trade and enthusiasts alike.

Wines that define global winemaking at its highest level

The Top 50 Best in Show selection spans 15 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

Together, they form a compelling portrait of contemporary global wine, ranging from Champagne, Franciacorta and English sparkling wine to Provence rosé, benchmark whites and reds from world-renowned regions like Burgundy, Napa Valley and Barolo to intriguing discoveries from areas such as Switzerland’s Valais, Croatia’s Hvar and Western Australia’s Frankland River.

Sweet and fortified wines also feature strongly, with standout examples including Tokaji Aszú, 98-point Sherry and Greek Vinsanto, a 1957 vintage Port and 30 Year Old Madeira.

Scroll down to see the Top 50 Best in Show wines of Decanter World Wine Awards 2026

How nearly 17,000 entries are narrowed to an exceptional 50

Receiving Best in Show requires success through DWWA’s exacting three-stage judging process.

The first stage sees all wines assessed blind during judging week in London by 245 leading international wine experts, including 63 Masters of Wine and 24 Master Sommeliers. Panels of three to four specialists taste wines organised by country, region, colour, vintage, grape variety and price point, with every Gold medal subsequently re-tasted and approved by at least one Co-Chair.

Only those Gold medals progress to the second phase: Platinum judging.

'During Platinum judging, the wines are all of an extraordinary quality because the regional panels have already done so much work and picked up the best of each category,' explains Co-Chair Beth Willard. 'Here what we’re doing is trying to pick up the best of the best. It’s really exciting because you have wines with amazing regional and varietal definition.'

'It also allows us to tighten up the judging,' adds Michael Hill Smith AM MW. 'There are some wines which are downgraded from Gold. In a way, it’s why the competition works, because it tightens up the results and gives the results more credibility.'

The final stage is reserved for the competition’s Co-Chairs – Andrew Jefford, Michael Hill Smith AM MW, Ronan Sayburn MS, Beth Willard and Resident Co-Chair Caro Maurer MW – who blind taste every Platinum medal winner once again. Through debate, consensus and careful deliberation, only 50 wines are elevated to Best in Show.

For producers, reaching this stage represents the pinnacle of international recognition and an extraordinary achievement in one of the world’s most competitive wine arenas.

Results remain strictly confidential until publication, making the unveiling of the Best in Show list one of the defining moments of the competition each year.

The commercial impact can be transformative.

'Winning had a huge impact on direct sales and press coverage – we have never sold so much wine as we did the day results were announced' said DWWA 2025 Best in Show winner Sugrue South Downs. 'Winning DWWA Best in Show is a stamp of approval that has cemented the perception of quality among our already established customers and has introduced new markets to our brand'

Standout wines and stories to seek out

While every Best in Show wine is exceptional, this year’s selection offers plenty of notable firsts, fascinating regional breakthroughs and styles that deserve particular attention.

Austria returns to the Best in Show ranks for the first time since 2023 with two outstanding white wines from Wachau and Kamptal, showcasing Grüner Veltliner and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc).

'Austria, especially the whites, impressed across the board with a lovely purity and focus; from indigenous to international varieties. Organic and sustainability might be the buzz words right now but no one executed it quite as beautifully, in particular at this price point,' said Regional Chair for Austria and Switzerland, Stefan Neumann MS.

Neighbouring Switzerland celebrates a milestone with its first-ever Best in Show red wine – a blend of Cornalin, Humagne Rouge and Syrah that the judges describe as another compelling statement from Europe’s “secret” fine wine nation.

France dominates the Top 50 with 16 Best in Show wines, while Burgundy stands out as the competition’s most successful individual region, securing five top medals across Chablis Grand Cru, Corton Grand Cru, Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru and Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru. Elsewhere, expect everything from alluring 2012 Blanc de Blancs Champagnes to authentic, traditional and complex 2025 Maury Sec, a first for the Languedoc-Roussillon appellation.

Australia’s winners demonstrate the country’s remarkable diversity, ranging from mature Hunter Valley Semillon and a first Eden Valley Riesling to Tasmanian Pinot Noir, Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon and a standout Shiraz from the increasingly celebrated Frankland River.

We have some truly outstanding wines amongst our Best in Show. I loved the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc we found, a wine with the kind of class and grain we've all been hunting for in non-Loire Sauvignon; our Barolo pick is glorious, as is the red Carmignano from Tuscany, and I'm super-happy to see a generous Croatian Plavac Mali up among the winners.

Andrew Jefford, Co-Chair

Sweet wines once again prove unforgettable. Among the competition’s two highest-scoring 98-point wines is a 2005 Vinsanto Late Release from Santorini, Greece, prompting judges to describe it simply as 'shockingly good'. Hungary, meanwhile, claimed a Best in Show first with a 6 Puttonyos Tokaji Aszú displaying dramatic complexity through oxidative ageing.

Fortified wines also stand out, with Portugal’s three Best in Show medals all awarded to Port and Madeira, while Spain’s contingent includes three outstanding Sherries spanning Fino and Amontillado styles.

Croatia received its second-ever appearance in the category thanks to a compelling Plavac Mali from the island of Hvar, while standout classic expressions from South Africa (Chenin Blanc), Argentina (Malbec) and Chile (Carmenère) underline the depth of quality that challenged the Co-Chairs’ final selections.

Italy’s breadth is equally impressive, with several category firsts represented: Piedmont’s inaugural Best in Show Barbera, Franciacorta’s first top accolade, plus debut appearances for Sicily's Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Tuscany's Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Alongside them sit commanding examples of Barolo and Carmignano Rosso Riserva that exemplify the country’s extraordinary range.

Wines worth seeking out

Behind every Best in Show medal lies multiple rounds of blind tasting, debate and consensus among some of the world’s foremost wine experts. The result is a collection that captures the very best of contemporary winemaking across regions, styles and price points.

Explore the full Top 50 below and click through each wine for detailed tasting notes, producer information and stockists supplied by entrants.

Whether you’re looking for a future cellar addition, an unexpected regional discovery or simply one of the finest bottles recognised anywhere in the world this year, these are the wines to seek out now.

DWWA Best in Show: The Top 50 wines of 2026

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Chile

France

Greece

Hungary

Italy

New Zealand

Portugal

South Africa

Spain

Switzerland

United Kingdom

United States

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Olivia Mason
Olivia Mason
Head of Marketing

Olivia Mason is the Head of Marketing at Decanter, looking after Decanter World Wine Awards, Decanter Fine Wine Encounters, partnerships and the brand's involvement at international events