50 Great Sparkling Wines of the World 2025. Awards & Scores

Over its 15-year history, the 50 Great Sparkling Wines of the World competition continues to defy expectations. While one might assume the same producers dominate year after year, the opposite is true—each edition unveils exciting new discoveries that capture the attention of wine importers, retailers and wine enthusiasts worldwide.

As the name suggests, this prestigious competition does not attract the masses but rather draws producers confident in their ability to rank among the world’s finest. Each year, a panel of 3 to 5 expert judges convenes in Spain’s High Penedès region to undertake an open-minded and rigorous two-day evaluation of sparkling wines from across the globe.

Judging Criteria

Wines are assessed based on their method of production. For traditional method sparkling wines, entries are grouped into flights according to dosage levels and time spent ageing on the lees. Charmat method wines are categorized based on dosage alone.

2025 Highlights

This year’s competition showcased remarkable new talent:

• The highest-scoring wine in the Traditional Method category and overall competition winner is Belgium’s Domaine du Chant d’Eole with their Cuvée Reserve (98 points).
• Making a strong debut, Croatia’s Misal Winery – Đordano Peršurić earned two top scores: Misal Blanc de Noirs (97 points) and Misal Istria (95 points).
• Another newcomer, Austria’s Weinviertler Sektmanufaktur (Weinviertel), achieved a Gold Medal (95 points) for their Zweigelt Rosé Reserve Brut.
• Italy’s Cormòns KREMÄUN Brut (Friuli Venezia Giulia) impressed with a score of 96 points, solidifying its place among the elite in the traditional method catergory..

Honoring Consistent Performers

The competition also salutes returning producers who consistently demonstrate excellence. Notable Gold Medal winners include:

• Jané Santacana (Penedès, Spain)
• Bodegas Langa (Calatayud, Spain)
• Valados de Melgaço (Vinhos Verdes – Monção e Melgaço, Portugal)
• La Scolca (Piemonte, Italy)
• DiGiorgio Family Wines (Coonawarra, South Australia)

In the Charmat category, Bacio della Luna (Veneto, Italy) earned a Gold Medal for their Prosecco DOCG Extra Dry, maintaining their position as a standout performer.

Discover New Favorites

Explore the 2025 results to uncover new gems and perhaps a few surprises that reflect the diversity and innovation in sparkling wine production today.

Traditional Method

Charmat Method

Frizzante