DWWA success story: Paris-Simoneau praises medal impact

DWWA success: a proven track record

Standing out from the crowd has never been more important for wineries in today’s super competitive market and the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) has a proven track record of providing producers with the platform for success.

As the world’s largest wine competition, DWWA represents a hallmark of excellence.

For more than 20 years, its rigorous judging process involving leading experts has showcased fantastic wines from both iconic and lesser-known producers, at all price-points and from every corner of the vinous universe.

As the deadline for DWWA 2026 entries on 17 March draws near, family-owned winery Paris-Simoneau spoke to Decanter about the impact of its own success at last year’s competition.

Loire Valley-based Paris-Simoneau won three medals at DWWA 2025, including one of just 30 Value Golds (95pts) for its Réserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024 from the Touraine appellation. This is a coveted list of Gold medallists under £15-a-bottle.

Co-owner Carine Simoneau said the producer’s international outlook prompted its decision to enter DWWA, citing Decanter’s ‘big influence’ in key export markets, such as the UK and US.

'We sold everything...'

Success quickly translated into tangible market opportunities. Simoneau said the winery saw a flurry of new sales enquiries for its Gold medal-winning Touraine Sauvignon Blanc.

Many of those came from the US, despite the uncertainty surrounding additional import tariffs on European wines at the time.

‘We had plenty of new customers,’ she said. ‘We sold everything – all our Sauvignon Blanc [2024] – in the three months after the competition results.’

Guarantee of quality

Simoneau also described how a DWWA score of 95 points made prospective buyers sit up and take notice.

‘We have a lot of medals in France but Decanter, when you export, is different. People say, “ah 95 points, it must be beautiful”. It gives a guarantee [of quality].’

DWWA judges praised Paris-Simoneau’s Réserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024 as ‘long and abiding’, enjoying its ‘generous ripe citrus peel and crunchy green apple fruit coupled with grassy nettle characters’.

Value for money

For many wineries, finding funds for marketing campaigns can be a challenge, particularly amid rising costs, climate-related hazards and difficult macroeconomic conditions.

Yet, plenty of people continue to enjoy great wine and so it’s hugely important to find ways to connect with key buyers, as well as consumers.

Simoneau said her experience of DWWA success offered strong benefits in this regard. ‘It makes a big difference because we are a small winery, we don’t have the budget to do marketing.’

An award also gives prospective buyers the sense of finding ‘a little jewel’ that might otherwise have lain undiscovered, she added.

DWWA still represents a financial commitment, but Simoneau described it as an important investment based on the potential rewards on offer.

Other Touraine wineries enjoyed success at DWWA 2025, too, and Simoneau said that this helps to raise the profile of the whole area. ‘We don’t have a big appellation in Touraine,’ she said. ‘So it’s good because it shines a light on us.’

Recognition and benchmarking

DWWA’s expert judges take equal delight in unearthing gems in lesser-known vineyard regions and finding under-the-radar excellence in established growing areas.

For producers of all styles, therefore, the competition represents an opportunity to benchmark wines. All entries are blind-tasted by expert panels involving leading critics, journalists and buyers.

A medal, from Best in Show to Bronze, is a significant vote of confidence for a producer’s whole team, and for all the unseen work that goes into managing vineyards and caring for wines in the cellar.

Simoneau said, ‘It’s recognition for all of the workers in the vines. It’s very important for all of the staff.’

Achieving a top medal in the 2024 vintage was also a particularly good feeling after a tricky growing season. ‘We never expected to have 95pts because it was so difficult with the mildew and everything.’

The Paris-Simoneau estate has attained level three – the highest tier – in France’s Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification system. Simoneau explained how the wider property also includes forest, clover and cereal crops, and how looking after the soil is a big part of the producer’s ethos.

Alongside Sauvignon Blanc, grape varieties planted include Chenin Blanc, Gamay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, while the wine range spans sparkling, reds and rosé, as well as whites.

Simoneau also described how she and her brother-in-law, Sébastien Paris, had no direct winemaking experience when they took on the family estate, having built successful careers in engineering at Bombardier and as a restaurant chef respectively.

‘At the beginning it was a big challenge,’ she said. Earning praise from a competition like DWWA is, therefore, a major milestone. ‘It’s like passing an exam and you have a big qualification.’

Key dates for DWWA 2026

• 17 March: Entry, payment and direct delivery deadline
• 4 – 15 May: DWWA judging period
• 17 June: DWWA results announced on Decanter.com
• 5 August: DWWA 2026 magazine on sale

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