6 things the 2026 WineGB Awards medal winners confirm about UK wine
The 10th edition of the competition shows standards continue to climb with an uplift in Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners and a maturing sector with stills winning more than sparkling for the second consecutive year.
1. UK wine is getting better & better
For the second year running, Judges have awarded a 99-point score, providing clear evidence that the quality of English and Welsh wine remains consistently high.
The percentage of entries that received Gold Medals this year compared with 2025 also increased, illustrating that producers are committed to improving standards year on year. Of the medals awarded, 16.4% were gold, 45% were silver, and 30% were bronze – a significant uplift from the 2025 medal table
2. UK wine is no longer just about sparkling
Still wines represented over half of all medal winning wines again this year with 52% entered winning a Gold, Silver or Bronze award.
There were also more still than sparkling wines entered for the second consecutive year, accounting for (56%) of the entries.
There was a strong showing from still Chardonnay wines at the top of the medal table but other stills making their mark included wines made Bacchus, Gamay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir.
3. Traditional Method Sparkling Wine still dominates the top spots
While still wine tipped the balance in terms of both the ratio of medal winners and wines entered, traditional method sparkling wines picked up almost 62% of the gold medals, illustrating that this style of wine is still what the UK does best.
A staggering 91% of sparkling wines entered into the competition were made in the traditional method.
4. Chardonnay continues to shine
Chardonnay wines stood out, accounting for 11 Blanc de Blancs expressions that achieved top marks and almost 62% of blends were Chardonnay dominant.
Chardonnay also accounted for 56% of the gold medals in the still wine category.
5. English wine is getting more diverse
While Chardonnay dominated the top of the medal table, wines made from 24 different grape varieties were awarded medals, including rarer varieties planted in the UK, such as Cabaret Jura, Cabaret Cortis, Gamay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.
6. The South West is quickly catching up with the South East
In the gold medal tally, Kent and Sussex came out on top.
However, this was closely followed by competition from the western counties, particularly Hampshire and Dorset, which won seven golds each.