All the medallists from The Autumn Tasting 2025

The signature of our annual Autumn Tasting is its sheer variety, encompassing everything from zesty sparklers to age-worthy reds. Patricia Stefanowicz MW reports.

AS SOON as the leaves start to fall from the trees, it’s time for the annual db Autumn Tasting. We judges love this event. It is our opportunity to taste a wide range of wines that do not fit into our grape-themed Global Masters tastings, or vintages that may not have been available in time for a specific tasting. Anything goes when it comes to the perfect drinks to sip this season.

First up were sparkling wines. Gilli’s Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco, a rare Piemonte sparkling red, earned a Gold medal, and there were Silvers for Spain, Italy, England, Slovakia and Australia. Austria was perhaps the star player in white wine this year. Kollwentz won our white Grand Master for oaked Chardonnay Gloria, joined by Leth, Weixelbaum, Schuster and Jordan, which took home Golds.

One of the most unusual Gold medal-winning wines we judged was Zlaty Roh’s oaked Riesling/ Grüner Veltliner blend from Slovakia. Among the rosés, Chivite Las Fincas Rosado from Navarra won a Master and a brace of wines made by Inurrieta from the same region were awarded Golds. Kylie Minogue Vin de Provence showed why Provençal rosés are deservedly popular. Elsewhere, Khareba from Georgia, Kir-Yianni from Greece and Kavalidere Saraplari from Turkey all earned Golds.

The judges found a fair few easy-drinking wines among the sub-£15 unoaked reds, including Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s Mouton Cadet x Pierre. At the expensive end, Khareba’s juicy qvevrimade Saperavi blend was a revelation. This year there was some excitement from the judges about inexpensive oaked wines.

At under £10, Pata Negra Vendimia and Antaño (Rioja) are both affordable, and quaffable. At £10–£15, Pata Negra Rioja Reserva is delicious. Andrew Peace won a Master for The Bight Cabernet-Shiraz from McLaren Vale, a snip at under £10, and Hasher Family Wines also gained a Master for a Pinot Noir from South Africa.

At £15–£20, there were Golds for Keringer in Burgenland, Bruce Jack in the Western Cape, Fuse Wine Black Pig in McLaren Vale, Baglio Gibellina in Sicily and Arnaiz in Ribero del Duero. We also had a couple of Masters at this price point: Koelenhof in the Western Cape and Bodegas Corcel’s Rioja Reserva.

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Above £30, great wines came from far and wide, including Austria (Rotweine Lang, Keringer, Kurt Angerer and Kollwentz); Rioja (Ramón Bilbao) and Stellenbosch (Koelenhof) – plus a fascinating wine from Slovakia (Vins Winery’s Dunaj).

North of £70, Kurt Angerer Cabernet Franc and Granite Syrah impressed. Our red Grand Master was Poggio al Tesoro’s Sondraia, a Super-Tuscan Bordeaux blend from Bolgheri.

We finished with two sweet wines from Tokaj in Slovakia. A delectable finale to a superb judging day.

White Sparkling – No Alcohol

Rosé Sparkling – No Alcohol

White Still – Mid-Strength Alcohol

Red Still – No Alcohol

Red Still – Mid-Strength Alcohol

White Sparkling

White Sparkling (continued)

Rosé Sparkling

Red Sparkling

Still White Unoaked

Still White Unoaked (continued)

Still White Oaked

Still Spanish Rosé Unoaked

Still Spanish Rosé Oaked

Still Rosé Unoaked

Still Rosé Oaked

Still Red Unoaked

Still Red Oaked

Still Red Oaked (continued)

Still Red Oaked (continued)

Sweet Wine

Sweet Red

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Autumn Tasting provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2025 competition was judged on 3 September at Novotel London Bridge, 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 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