PRODUCERS OF THE YEAR 2024

Picking up any medal at SWA is quite an achievement, so for a single producer to pick up several medals, with extra awards and trophies on top, deserves special recognition. These are the producers that put in a particularly strong performance in this year’s competition.

SPARKLING WINE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

LAURENT-PERRIER

3 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze, 3 extra awards/trophies

It may have faced stiff competition from elsewhere in Europe, but it was a Champagne house that won out in the end, our judges full of praise for Laurent-Perrier’s wines, across vintage, NV and rosé. It received three Gold medals, with the Grand Siècle NV taking a Critics’ Choice award on top and the Alexandra Rosé 2012 receiving the highest accolade – the SWA Champagne of the Year trophy. Yes, at £264.05 it was the most expensive medal winning wine in the competition, but this clearly delivered at that price point, with one judge describing it as ‘endlessly complex’.

Runners up: Fox & Fox – eight medals, including one Gold, for its well-priced English sparkling wines in a range of styles – and A-Nobis, with five medals (two Golds) for its food-friendly Austrian selection.

EUROPEAN PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

RAMÓN BILBAO

3 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze, 3 extra awards/trophies

From a £9 house red to a couple of £70+ examples, Ramón Bilbao had the Rioja category sewn up this year, taking both Rioja Golds for its two premium Lalomba wines (one of which also received a Critics’ Choice award), as well as a Silver and three Bronzes for its lower-priced reds and a rosé too. From its Rueda bodega, the producer’s Early Harvest White was one of the stars of this year’s competition, earning both Critics’ Choice and Pub & Bar awards, all for a very reasonable £12.

Runner up: Alpha Estate – seven medals, including one Gold, for its range of reasonably priced, local-varietal Greek whites and reds.

NEW WORLD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

KAIKEN

1 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze

Mendoza’s Kaiken was a serious player in this year’s New World Malbec category, taking three medals, including a Gold for its “complex, inviting and delicious” Mai 2021. Aside from single-varietal Malbecs, there was praise for Kaiken’s Disobedience by Francis Mallmann red blend and Ultra Chardonnay 2022, which both received Silver medals. The producer offered good value too, with most of its wines – aside from the Gold medal winner – priced at under £19.

Runners up: Stella Bella – four medals, including one Gold, for its Margaret River selection, including red, white and fortified wines – and Neudorf, with its six medals (one Gold) for its New Zealand Pinot Noirs and whites.

FORTIFIED PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

VALDESPINO

3 Gold, 1 Bronze, 2 extra awards/trophies

Sherry producer Valdespino was the clear winner in our Sweet and Fortified category this year, being awarded three out of the five Gold medals for its range of different sherry styles, which included a “very inviting” amontillado and a “rich and elegant” Pedro Ximénez. This PX, together with the Don Gonzalo Oloroso VOS, also received Critics’ Choice awards on top, cementing Valdespino’s position at the top of the fortified table.