Northern Italy's White Wines: DWWA masterclass at Wines Experience London 2026
Decanter World Wine Awards recently hosted a masterclass at the launch of Wines Experience London (Real Italian Wine & Food Experience), showcasing six Northern Italian white wines awarded medals in the competition's 2025 edition.
This year, a new trade format arrived in London with Wines Experience, an innovative structure promoting commercial conversations for Italian food and wine.
As part of the programme Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) hosted a masterclass on 26 April showcasing the potential of Northern Italy’s white wines, marking a significant milestone at the 2025 competition.
DWWA Senior judge Vincenzo Arnese.
From steep slopes, to lake and coastal influences, and mineral soils, the selection of white wines showcased the diversity of Northern Italy through a vast range of terroirs, grape varieties and styles.
A focus on terroir, tradition and innovation
Beginning with an overview of Decanter World Wine Awards’ rigorous judging process, the 2025 edition marked the competition’s 22nd year, more than 17,000 wines from 57 countries were assessed by 248 experts, including 71 Masters of Wine and 23 Master Sommeliers.
Arnese highlighted that Italy has long been celebrated for its outstanding red wines, while a new narrative is emerging for its white grape varieties, defined by freshness, architectural structure and remarkable ageing potential. These are wines redefining the global perception of Italian wines.
Scroll down to discover the six masterclass wines with tasting notes
Italy ranks among the top three most-awarded countries by medal count. During the masterclass, Arnese presented figures underscoring the rising performance of Italian whites: in 2025, Italy secured 65 Gold medals, of which 39 were awarded to white wines and 25 to reds. Notably, whites accounted for 60% of Northern Italy’s Gold medals, highlighting a decisive shift in the country’s qualitative landscape.
The tasting opened with a 97-point Platinum medal winner from Collio, Muzic Valeris Friulano, Friuli Venezia Giulia 2023 – a benchmark expression of indigenous varietal character. It was noted that Platinum and Best in Show represent the elite tier of the competition: all entries scoring 97 points and above are re-tasted a minimum of four times; Best in Show stands as the ultimate accolade, awarded to just 50 wines.
Wines Experience DWWA 2025 masterclass London.
The tasting continued with three 95-point Gold medallists, each having successfully passed a rigorous second judging stage: Podere Selva Capuzza Menasasso Lugana Riserva 2020 from Lombardy, Zýmē di Celestino Gaspari From Black to White 2022 from Veneto and Cantine Volpi Derthona La Zerba Timorasso Colli Tortonesi 2023 from Piedmont.
The masterclass concluded with two leading 96-point Gold expressions from Valle d'Aosta and Alto Adige, underscoring the exceptional quality emerging from Italy’s alpine viticultural landscapes with:
- Les Crêtes, Cuvée Bois Chardonnay, Valle d'Aosta 2022
- Cantina Terlano, Rarity, Alto Adige Terlano 2012
DWWA 2026 judging commences this week, with results set to be announced on 17 June. Another compelling year awaits, and anticipation is already building for the wines that will define this year’s winners.
The full line-up of DWWA masterclass.
See below to discover the line-up of 95-97-point wines which were presented on the day (in tasting order).
The six masterclass wines
Muzic, Valeris Friulano, Collio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2023
Platinum, 97 points
100% Tocai Friulano
Outstanding splendour, evoking fennel and tarragon herbs, jasmine florals and ripe red apple fruit, all of which carry through to the refined palate. Salivating and vibrant with a velvety texture, finely-beaded acidity and visceral gravelly length. Alcohol 13.5%
Podere Selva Capuzza, Menasasso, Lugana Riserva, Lombardy, Italy 2020
Gold, 95 points
100% Turbiana
Dashing golden fruits, sweet vanilla and fresh thyme on the nose with an exquisite mineral purity coming to the fore and an unfurling creaminess to conclude. Alc 13.5%
Zýmē di Celestino Gaspari, From Black to White, Veneto 2022
Gold, 95 points
60% Rondinella Bianca, 15% Goldtraminer, 15% Kerner, 10% Incrocio Manzoni
A lovely original style with alluring ripe apple and pear aromas and contrasting stony mineral undertones. Zesty and vibrant with a long pink grapefruit finish. Alc 13%
Cantine Volpi, Derthona La Zerba Timorasso, Colli Tortonesi, Piedmont 2023
Gold, 95 points
100% Timorasso
Intense buttered toast and juicy, salted lime notes over an overt acid backbone which sears over the mouth-wateringly viscous palate. Full of life and promise. Alc 14%
Les Crêtes, Cuvée Bois Chardonnay, Valle d'Aosta 2022
Gold, 96 points
100% Chardonnay
Keen floral, tropical fruit and buttered toast aromas soak into the voluptuous palate and lap cheerfully against the juicy texture and lingering salted citrus finish. Alc 14.5%
Cantina Terlano, Rarity, Alto Adige Terlano 2012
Gold, 96 points
100% Pinot Blanc
Astonishingly youthful for its age; flourishing with lemon curd, turmeric and ginger spice and acacia honey nuance; resplendent in its plush, poised charm. True perfection. Alc 14%
Search all DWWA 2025 winners
Wines Experience London 2026 brought together 200 Italian wine and food exhibitors and over 1,200 trade attendees at ExCeL London. Learn more about the London 'Trade & Show' event here.
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