All the medallists from the Travel Retail Masters 2025

The resurgent travel retail sector offers rich opportunities for wine producers, and, from Prosecco to Port, quality is high. Patricia Stefanowicz MW reports.

GLOBAL TRAVEL retail provides international opportunities for wine brands to introduce their wines and for these to become recognised products. Thereafter, these wines form part of a wine drinker’s repertoire, sought out whether at home or abroad.

Our Global Travel Retail Masters judging this year did not have any Champagne entries, but the tasting did include wines from Chapel Down in Kent. Two fantastic sparkling wines – the brut-style Chapel Down Grand Reserve 2019 and Chapel Down Traveller’s Edition

Sparkling Rosé 2022 – were awarded Gold medals, both affordable luxuries at £48 and £29 respectively.

Prosecco is another sparkling wine style that should be investigated in travel retail. The judges awarded Golds to Villa Sandi’s Rosé Prosecco 2024 and Santa Margherita’s white Valdobbiadene Superiore, and gave out plenty of Silvers in the category.

Among the still wines, Chapel Down picked up another Gold for its unoaked Bacchus 2024, a lovely expression of this gently grass-nettle-greengage variety.

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There were only a few wines from the New World in the competition. But flying the non-European flag was Cornucopia Winery’s No. 8 Wire oaked Chardonnay from Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand. Meanwhile, our Grand Master, the highest scorer of the competition, was also in the oaked white group: Inama’s Vulcaia Fumé Sauvignon Blanc from the Veneto in Italy, a fine-quality, beautifully balanced and complex example.

Wines from South America were very good, and Chile’s Vik is a label to search for. Its flagship wines from Millahue in the Cachapoal Valley, La Piu Belle Rosé 2025, made from a blend of Bordeaux varieties and delicately oaked, and La Piu Belle Red 2022, based on Carmenere, were awarded well-deserved Golds.

Sweet wines are a mainstay in travel retail, and Port in particular shows up almost everywhere. The Port wines from Sandeman are unparalleled, especially the tawny Ports. The 10-year old and 30-year old tawnies are fabulous, and the 20-year old earned a Master. Sandeman’s single quinta vintage Port from Quinto do Seixo picked up a Gold.

In our constantly evolving world, there are plenty of challenges for travel retail in the global wine industry. But there are opportunities too. New product introductions and targeted promotional activity are key elements driving success. On the basis of our tasting, global travel retail is back on track for growth.

Our Global Travel Retail Masters judging only saw a small portion of the wide range of wines currently available. However, this limited selection suggests that the quality on offer is excellent. The wines we tasted are delicious, represent aspirational luxury and have been awarded for their quality and drinkability. Some are outstanding, worthy of gift-giving or self-indulgence on one’s next venture abroad.

White Sparkling

Rosé Sparkling

Still White Unoaked

Still White Oaked

Still Rosé Unoaked

Still Rosé Oaked

Still Red Unoaked

Still Red Oaked

Fortified Wine

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Travel Retail Masters provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2025 competition was judged on 20 August at The Belvedere in 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 accolades – the titles of Travel Retail Master or Grand Master. This report features medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information or, to enter future competitions, with a chance to appear in print and online, call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Aston at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com