The 2025 China Wine Competition has officially announced this year’s top award-winners, recognizing outstanding wines and producers who demonstrated the highest levels of quality, value, and market suitability for China's growing on-trade wine sector.

Judged by leading sommeliers, wine directors, and on-trade buyers across China, the competition highlights wines that deliver excellence in the glass and strong commercial appeal for restaurants, hotels, and premium hospitality venues.

This year’s competition showcased remarkable diversity and innovation across international wine regions — reflecting China’s expanding wine culture and increasing demand for quality-driven imports and premium drinking experiences.

Here are the top winners:

Wine of the Year — Balthasar Ress Weingut | Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Trocken, VDP.GG | Germany

Best Wine by Quality — Balthasar Ress Weingut | Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Trocken, VDP.GG | Germany

White Wine Producer of the Year — Balthasar Ress Weingut KG | Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Trocken, VDP.GG | Germany

Riesling of the Year — Balthasar Ress Weingut | Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Trocken, VDP.GG | Germany

Wine of the Year Germany — Balthasar Ress Weingut | Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Trocken, VDP.GG | Germany

Winery of the Year Germany — Balthasar Ress Weingut KG | Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Trocken, VDP.GG | Germany

Shiraz of the Year — Heartland Wines | Heartland Directors' Cut Shiraz 2021 | Australia

Wine of the Year Australia — Heartland Wines | Heartland Directors' Cut Shiraz 2021 | Australia

Tempranillo of the Year — Marqués De Carrión (J. García Carrión) | Marqués De Carrión Crianza | Spain

Wine of the Year Spain — Marqués De Carrión (J. García Carrión) | Marqués De Carrión Crianza | Spain

Best Wine by Value — J. García Carrión | Viña Arnaiz Rioja Crianza | Spain

Wine of the Year Greece — Kounaki Wines | Retsina Organic | Greece

Wine of the Year Portugal — Quinta De Soalheiro Lda | Soalheiro Allo | Portugal

Wine of the Year South Africa — Sesfikile Wines | Sesfikile Chenin Blanc Roussanne | South Africa

Best Wine by Package — Bodega Sonsierra | Perfume De Sonsierra | Spain

Wine of the Year Italy — Tenuta Fratini | Fratini Hortense Bolgheri Superiore DOC 2022 | Italy

View full results here.

A Message From the China Wine Competition

“These winners represent the very best wines suited for China’s on-trade,” said Sid Patel, CEO of the China Wine Competition and Beverage Trade Network. “From world-class dry Rieslings to innovative non-alcoholic expressions, the 2025 winners showcase technical excellence, strong value, and market readiness for one of the fastest-growing premium wine markets in the world.”

Judging Panel of the 2025 China Wine Competition

Judging Panel

The 2025 China Wine Competition was adjudicated by a distinguished panel of on-trade experts from China and Hong Kong, including: Tom Baxter (Asia Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd), Dirk Chen (Director of Wine, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong), Yohann Jousselin MS (Master Sommelier, Head of Fine Wines at Kerry Wines), Juwan Kim (Head Sommelier, La Petite Maison, Hong Kong), Phenol Mak (Head Sommelier at Tosca di Angelo, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong), Danny Ng (Beverage Manager, The American Club, Hong Kong), Dominique Noel (Senior Manager – Wine Management / Wine Buyer / Sommelier), Jasper Otten (Sommelier, Aqua Restaurant Group, Hong Kong), Nicola Perrone (Head of Wine, Asia at Zuma Restaurants), Esther Poon (Senior Sommelier, Feuille, Hong Kong), Kenny Tsui (Sommelier, Epure, Hong Kong), Alex Wai (Head Sommelier, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong), and Kelvin Ziea (Chief Sommelier, JW Marriott Hotel, Hong Kong).

These individuals were selected for their expertise in wine service, buying, and list-curation within Asia’s hospitality landscape — ensuring the competition’s awards reflect real on-trade relevance and market readiness

About the China Wine Competition

The Competition: The only wine competition in China where wines are judged for the on-trade and by on-trade buyers.

Judges: Top sommeliers, wine directors, and hospitality buyers across China.

Judging Focus:

•  Quality
•  Value
•  Commercial potential for China’s restaurant & hotel sector

The goal is simple: help on-trade buyers find wines that will succeed in China’s hospitality venues.

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China Wine Competition Announces 2025 Wine of the Year Winner