Earlier this year, the 2018 Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships’ (CSWWC) elite panel of judges – Tom Stevenson, Essi Avellan MW and Dr Tony Jordan – blind tasted more than two thousand sparkling wines from nearly 30 different countries, in what is the most respected, comprehensive and rigorous international wine competition in the world.
In July 2018, the CSWWC team revealed the gold and silver medal winners from around the globe, with a total of 116 Gold and 128 Silver medals awarded to sparkling wines from 18 different countries. Perhaps unsurprisingly, French sparkling wines were the most decorated, picking up 47 Gold and 36 Silver medals, with Champagne itself receiving a whopping 45 Gold medals – nearly 39% of the total number awarded.
Once the Gold and Silver medals had been declared, the panel undertook the illustrious task of re-tasting the highest performing sparkling wines in order to decide upon the Best in Class, Regional Champions, National Champions, World Champions (by style) and finally the Supreme World Champion. The trophy winners and World Champions were announced in front of a gathering of over 150 international winemakers, producers and journalists at the annual CSWWC Awards Dinner at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London on 24th October 2018.
A total of 25 trophies were awarded from 68 Best in Class winners, including 9 National Champions and 7 World Champions by Style. Once again, Champagne proved its dominance, picking up 5 of the 7 World Champion trophies. The World Champion and Best in Class winners from Champagne are listed below. The full list of award winners can be viewed here.
Founder and head judge Tom Stevenson announces the CSWWC 2018 trophy winners
| Champagne World and National Champion Winners | |
| Award | Champagne |
| Supreme World Champion | Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Magnum |
| World Champion Classic Brut Non-Vintage Blend 2018 | Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Magnum |
| World Champion Classic Brut Vintage Blend 2018 | Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2009 |
| World Champion Classic Blanc de Blancs 2018 | Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV Magnum |
| World Champion Classic Rosé 2018 | Louis Roederer Rosé 2010 Magnum |
| World Champion Library Vintage 2018 | Piper-Heidsieck Rare 1998 Magnum |
| Best French Sparkling Wine 2018 | Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Magnum |
| Champagne Best in Class Winners | |
| Award | Champagne |
| Best Champagne Future Release | Jacquart 2013 Blanc de Blancs |
| Best Champagne Rosé Vintage | Louis Roederer Rosé 2010 Magnum |
| Best Champagne Brut NV | Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Magnum |
| Best Champagne Magnum | Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Magnum |
| Best Champagne Blanc de Blancs Vintage | Maison Mumm RSRV Blanc de Blancs 2012 |
| Best Deluxe Champagne Blanc de Blancs | Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs Magnum 2004 |
| Best French Sparkling Wine 2018 | Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Magnum |
| Best Champagne Brut Vintage | Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2009 |
| Best Champagne Blanc de Noirs NV | Montaudon Blanc de Noirs NV |
| Best Champagne Blanc de Blancs NV | Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV Magnum |
| Best Champagne Rosé NV | Thiénot Cuvée Thiénot Rosé NV |
| Best Single-Vineyard Champagne | Pommery Clos Pompadour 2003 Magnum |
| Best Deluxe Champagne Future Release | Dom Pérignon 2002 P2 |
| Best Deluxe Champagne Vintaged Brut | Louis Roederer Cristal 2002 Magnum |
| Best Deluxe Champagne Rosé | Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé 2002 Magnum |
| Best Deluxe Champagne Magnum | Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé 2002 Magnum |
| Best Deluxe Champagne Brut MV | Moët & Chandon MCIII |
As has become tradition at the CSWWC, Louis Roederer swept the board, winning an incredible 9 trophies and being crowned both Supreme World Champion for Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Magnum and Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year. Despite it being a non-vintage champagne, we weren’t in the least bit surprised that Brut Premier NV Magnum took home the top prize. The current 2010 base, enhanced by the magical magnum effect, is a mind-blowing champagne – many on the evening couldn’t quite believe it wasn’t Cristal.
For the first time, the CSWWC granted Lifetime Achievement Awards, presented to, amongst others, the late Thierry Roset of Charles Heidsieck, Thierry Gasco of Pommery, Jean-Paul Gandon of Lanson, Hervé Deschamps of Perrier-Jouet, Richard Geoffroy of Dom Perignon, Loïc Dupont of Taittinger and François Domi of Billecart-Salmon. Other special awards include a Chairman’s Trophy for Dominique Demarville, Chef de Cave at Veuve Clicquot.
Founder and head judge Tom Stevenson said: “We have been really impressed by the standard of Champagnes and sparkling wines that have entered this year. The bar was set high from day one and the medal count certainly reflects this. We were delighted to see Louis Roederer Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon collect the ultimate crown for their NV Brut Premier.”
Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon collects the Supreme World Champion trophy from Essi Avellan MW
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2009: a deserving World Champion Best Vintage Blend
The CSWWC 2018 Champagne World Champions
