WineGB is delighted to announce The Golden 50 for 2026, a prestigious selection of the standout English and Welsh wines chosen in collaboration with Vineyard magazine editor Rebecca Farmer.

Selected from more than 130 gold-medal-winning wines, The Golden 50 showcases the exceptional quality, diversity and growing international recognition of English and Welsh wine.

The Golden 50 celebrates the remarkable breadth of quality being produced by vineyards across England and Wales. The final list features 13 still wines and 37 sparkling wines from producers spanning 19 counties, from Cornwall to Staffordshire and Kent to Herefordshire.

A golden year for English and Welsh wine

The Golden 50 selection draws on results from nine leading wine competitions: the WineGB Awards, Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge (IWC), International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships, Global Masters, Sommelier Wine Awards, London Wine Competition and Sommeliers Choice Awards.

The results reflect the strength of the UK wine industry, with 31 producers achieving multiple gold medals across these competitions in 2026.

Among this year’s highlights are some of the country’s most celebrated wines, including Balfour Blanc de Blancs 2018, awarded Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards, alongside IWC Trophy Winners Chapel Down Rosé NV and Hundred Hills Blanc de Blancs Library Release 2018.

The list also welcomes new names for 2026, including Abingworth with its Four Fables Chardonnay 2024 and Herefordshire producer 1276 with its Chardonnay 2024.

Other wines to look out for include The Grange Pink NV and Hambledon Wine Estate Blanc de Blanc Brut NV, both of which achieved multiple gold medals during 2026.

Together, these wines demonstrate the range of styles, regions and producers contributing to the continued success of English and Welsh wine.

Discover The Golden 50

From award-winning sparkling wines to outstanding still wines, The Golden 50 offers consumers and the wine trade a compelling guide to some of the very best wines being made in England and Wales today.

With Christmas on the horizon, the selection provides an excellent starting point for discovering new favourites, supporting local producers and celebrating the quality of home-grown wine.

And while The Golden 50 shines a spotlight on this year’s leading award winners, it represents just a snapshot of a vibrant and diverse industry. Across the UK, vineyards continue to explore new varieties, develop distinctive regional styles and create wines that bring people together.

Discover your local producer using the WineGB UK Wine Map and raise a glass to the best of English and Welsh wine.

golden 50 in full