All of the medallists from The Global Sparkling Masters 2024

Sparkling wines are great bringers of joy, no matter where they hail from – and often at surprisingly reasonable prices. Siobhan Turner MW reports.

Sparking wine’s principal job, I believe, is to bring joy. Sometimes it might also bring contemplation, but for the most part it is there for celebration, either of the event or created by the fizz itself. Tasting sparkling wines from around the globe on a glorious late spring day in Islington certainly helped set the mood, but the wines in so many cases lived up to that promise that bubbles bring.

The eight judges, in groups of two, tasted and debated 210 wines, in colours including not only the expected white, rosé and red – but also purple, orange and a vibrant blue. Fourteen countries were represented, including 23 wines from Australia, 26 from France, 35 from Spain and an astonishing 79 from Italy, and, of those, only the US failed to secure a medal-winning wine. Thirty-six Golds and seven Masters resulted, from eight countries. Six of these Golds came from the sub-£10 category, a magnificent achievement for the producers involved.

Although both Champagne and Prosecco have their own Masters, there were still a number of those wines entered in this tasting and, as you would expect, both of them, and the Champagnes especially, shone brightly. Where wines stood out, it was because they not only had a sense of what they wanted to be, but also managed to achieve that goal. Our Masters varied in style from the absolutely delightful Le Blanc de Blancs from Champagne Lanson to the intense and delicious Langmeil Stelle Nere Sparkling Shiraz – two very different wines, but sharing an authenticity, as well as a precision in their creation.

Where wines failed to score well, it was usually not for any particular technical fault, but simply because they revealed a lack of focus. Dilute, bland, boring, unbalanced – all of these were, rightly, ignored by the judges.

Masterful Moscato

The standout category across all four tasting groups was Moscato d’Asti, with eight Golds and a Master – nearly 20% of the DOCG’s entries – and including two in the sub-£10 category. Where these succeeded was in marrying intense sweetness with a lightness of touch and a delicacy that made them enjoyable and elegant examples. That they are low in alcohol is a wonderful bonus.

My personal favourites were Campbianc Moscato d’Asti from Emilio Vada and Le Blanc de Blancs from Champagne Lanson – wines of two very different styles, but united in the elegance that they showed – and the joy that they brought.

White Sparkling Brut (12 g/l or lower)

White Sparkling Brut (12 g/l or lower, continued)

Rosé Sparkling Brut (12 g/l or lower)

White Sparkling Sweet (12 g/l+)

Rosé Sparkling Sweet(12 g/l+)

Red Sparkling Sweet(12 g/l+)

Semi-Sparkling Sweet Wine

Pre-mixed Sparkling

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Sparkling Masters provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2024 competition was judged on 9 May at Bellanger in Islington, London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Sparkling Master.

This report features the medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com