The much anticipated return of the Thames and Chiltern Vineyard Association Wine Challenge at The Oarsman in Marlow brought the region’s producers together after a three-year hiatus. The competition celebrated quality, diversity and the collaborative spirit that defines this growing English wine region.
The event comprised two days. A full day of blind judging took place on Monday 2 February, followed by an awards presentation and celebration lunch on Tuesday. In total, 44 wines were entered across six categories, with 21 medals awarded: three Gold, eight Silver, and ten Bronze.
The competition was judged by a distinguished panel of six industry professionals, led by Head Judge Jamie Smith (Sommelier, ecoSIP / The Online Wine Tasting Club). The panel included Emily Brighton MW (Head of Technical, North South Wines), Ali Cooper MW, Polly Gibson DipWSET (Wine with Polly), Nigel Sutcliffe (Founder, Truffle Hunting), and Sam Kemp (Head Winemaker, RAD Winery).
Wines were tasted blind and scored primarily on nose and palate, with bonus points available for label and branding after tastings were complete.
The judges were complimentary about the diversity of fruit, the breadth of winemaking approaches, and what many producers are already achieving. Greater structure and focus was noted within the sparkling categories, but the still wine categories also showed real promise.
Polly Gibson DipWSET commented: “It is a real pleasure to see the diversity that this region champions, with a signature style tangible in many of the vineyards. Beyond some stunning English sparkling, the still wine categories showed great promise and progress. Even with challenging vintages, the region has produced some wines that would hold their own at national level.”
Emily Brighton MW noted: “Some wines really highlighted the quality potential of the region, particularly for sparkling whites, a couple of which were up there with the best I’ve tasted from England. There were also a few interesting, textural whites, making effective use of judicious skin contact and lees.”
Trophies were presented by Nicola Bates, CEO of WineGB, alongside TCVA Chairman Ian Beecher-Jones. Harrow & Hope’s NV Brut Reserve No. 10 took both Best Overall and the Sparkling Wine Trophy. The Mac Mackinnon Trophy for Best Still White went to JoJo’s Vineyard Bacchus-Seyval Blanc 2022, while Brightwell Vineyards’ Pinot Noir 2021 claimed the Emmbrook Cup for Best Still Red.
Highlights included Gold medals awarded to Harrow & Hope Brut Reserve No. 10, JoJo’s Vineyard Premiere Cuvée, and Wyfold Vineyard Brut 2019, all in the Sparkling White category. Eight Silver medals recognized excellence across multiple categories, with Vyn Dene’s Bubbling Blanc Col Fondo demonstrating the region’s willingness to experiment with alternative styles.
The awards lunch brought together producers, committee members, judges and invited guests. The genuine community spirit and sense of encouragement after the three-year gap was palpable throughout the celebration.
Nicola Bates described it as “a brilliant awards” and encouraged the association to “drive on into the future.” The Oarsman in Marlow hosted both the judging and awards lunch with great generosity, including offering to feature the overall winning wine as their Wine of the Month.
With 44 entries and a strong panel of judges, the 2026 Wine Challenge has laid solid foundation for the future. The hope is that it becomes an annual fixture, offering a moment each year to assess the region’s progress and celebrate what Thames & Chiltern producers are achieving. As Nigel Sutcliffe put it: “Can’t wait to do it again.”
Thames and Chiltern Vineyard Association: tcva@winegb.co.uk
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