All the medallists from the Global Orange Wine Masters 2024

Spanning nine countries and an array of styles, this flight of orange wines deserved its impressive haul of medals, reports Siobhan Turner MW.

Freshly returned from two weeks in the sun, it was time to get back to work with a small but truly enlightening tasting of orange wines.

We had only 24 wines ahead of us, but these comprised one of the most interesting and enjoyable tastings I’ve had the pleasure of doing. Of the 24 wines here, three were awarded Master medals, and a further six given Golds. Only two of the wines were judged not medal worthy, a sign of the high quality grapes and skilled winemaking in this fast growing wine category.

Nine countries were represented, France the highest with six wines, followed by Italy with five and Chile with three.

Portugal had the best result, with its two entries awarded a Master and a Gold. The other Master medal winners were from Italy and France, while France, Italy and Spain also produced Golds.

The medals came from most price ranges, but it was noticeable that in this category, where a more artisanal style of winemaking is needed, there was a definite price floor for the higher medals – nothing under £10 got a Gold, and there were relatively few Silvers at that price point. That said, the £10-£15 range was awash with pleasure, with three of the six Golds coming from this bracket.

And finally… one producer took the phrase “orange wine” somewhat literally, and two submissions from Valencia were made from actual oranges. It would not be fair to describe these as wines, but the sparkling offering was very enjoyable, like a mildly alcoholic Fanta. We all thought it would make a very good mixer for gin or vodka, perhaps a screwdriver cocktail with an extra kick.

Two submissions from Valencia were made from actual oranges

Made with Oranges – Sparkling Unoaked

Sparkling

Unoaked Still

Still Oaked

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Orange Wine Masters provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2024 competition was judged on 14 August at The White Horse in Parsons Green, 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 Orange Wine 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