The United States had a record-breaking year at the world’s largest wine awards, with two Best in Show, five Platinum, and 32 Gold medals. California, Oregon, and Washington continued to dominate, but Texas had a landmark year with its first-ever Gold medals.

Texas Wine Country

Texas Hill Country was a standout region, with three wines from the area winning Gold medals: AB Astris, Souzao 2022; Turtle Creek, Tannat 2023; and Adega Vinho, Estate Tempranillo 2021. Spicewood Vineyards, Las Montañas 2022, also won a Gold medal.

Virginia won five Gold medals, with winners including Chestnut Oak Vineyard, Chestnut One, Monticello 2023; and Early Mountain Vineyards, Quaker Run Cabernet Franc 2022. Pennsylvania also bagged a Gold medal for Benigna’s Creek, Chambourcin 2024.

Global Wine Trends

France was the strongest performer overall, securing 254 top-tier awards. Italy ranked second overall, securing 144 top-tier medals. Spain, Germany, and Austria also had a great year, with Spain securing its greatest-ever haul of top-tier medals.

The results demonstrate that great wines are coming from every corner of the world, according to Pierre Mansour, a judge and regional chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.