A Silver Medal for Oriana Golden Spur

We are delighted to share that Oriana Golden Spur Brut NV has been awarded a Silver Medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).

Widely regarded as one of the world’s most respected blind tasting competitions, the IWSC brings together leading international producers alongside some of the wine industry’s most experienced judges, sommeliers, and wine experts.

Following last year’s medal success with our 2019 vintage, Golden Spur 2022 was entered into this year’s competition as an early pre-release wine, making the recognition feel particularly meaningful at this stage in its journey.

Still very much a pre-release wine, Oriana Golden Spur was not expected to achieve recognition at this point in its development. Tasted blind alongside sparkling wines from some of the world’s most established producers, it was instead recognised for its precision, balance, and character, an encouraging reflection of both the wine itself and the continuing evolution of The Weyborne Estate.

As William Sharpley, Commercial Director at The Weyborne Estate, notes:

“Oriana Golden Spur is still a pre-release wine, so we weren't expecting anything at this stage. As a young vineyard competing against some of the biggest names in sparkling wine, receiving a Silver Medal from the IWSC feels like a real achievement. It's an exciting early sign of what's to come from the 2022 vintage.”

As a relatively new vineyard quietly establishing itself within the landscape of English sparkling wine, receiving this level of international recognition amongst such company is something we are immensely proud of.

This year’s judging panel included respected industry figures such as John Hoskins MW, Colin Thorne, Sunny Hodge, and Emma Penman, whose combined expertise spans wine judging, hospitality, education, and contemporary wine culture.

The judges described the wine as:

“Fresh, engaging aromas of bread, yeast and lemon zest into custard with green apple.”

These tasting notes capture the wine’s bright energy and evolving complexity, hallmarks of traditionally made English sparkling wine shaped by both precision and patience.

What continues to excite us most about Oriana Golden Spur is its versatility. While naturally suited to celebration, it also pairs effortlessly with the freshness and simplicity of seasonal summer dining.

Crab linguine with lemon and herbs, pea and mint risotto with burrata, fresh oysters, or lightly grilled asparagus with citrus and parmesan all complement the wine’s vibrant acidity and layered texture beautifully.

Though still early in its story, Oriana Golden Spur already shows remarkable clarity, confidence, and sense of place.

This Silver Medal at the IWSC feels not only like recognition of where the wine is today, but also an exciting glimpse into what is still to come from The Weyborne Estate as the 2022 vintage continues to evolve.