Abrau-Durso Group's sparkling wines have received recognition in China and won top awards at the Shanghai International Wine Challenge 2025

The sparkling wines of the Abrau-Durso Group received top awards at the prestigious Shanghai International Wine Challenge (SIWC) 2025, which took place in Shanghai from June 23 to 27. The platinum award — the only one for Russia — was awarded to the 2022 Tsimlyansky Black Brut sparkling wine from Vedernikov Winery, while two gold medals went to the 2023 Victor Dravigny Brut and the 2021 Brut d’Or Blanc de Blancs from Abrau-Durso. SIWC, one of China's largest professional tasting competitions, was held for the nineteenth time this year.

The 2025 Shanghai International Wine Challenge (SIWC) brought together leading wine-producing countries - France, Italy, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, and others.

The highest award in the competition — platinum — went to a sparkling wine from the Vedernikov Winery — Tsimlyansky Black Brut from the 2022 harvest. The white sparkling wine Tsimlyansky Black Brut from Vedernykov Winery is made from an autochthonous Don variety grown on the right bank of the Don River and produced using the classic method with ageing on the lees for more than 12 months. Experts particularly appreciated the subtle play of bubbles, as well as the elegant bouquet with notes of ripe apple, pear, vanilla and bread crust.

Gold medals were awarded to classic sparkling wines "Abrau-Durso" — Victor Dravigny Brut 2023 and Brut d'Or Blanc de Blancs 2021. The aged sparkling wine Victor Dravigny Brut is distinguished by a subtle and delicate bouquet of aromas of white flowers, peaches, apricots and pears. Brut d’Or Blanc de Blancs is a single-varietal sparkling wine made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, with characteristic notes of brioche, butter and white flowers. First introduced in 2015, it was the first in the renowned Brut d’Or line. Today, Brut d’Or Blanc de Blancs is one of the most famous wines in the Abrau-Durso collection, its quality confirmed by expert recognition and consumer love.

The SIWC competition was founded in 2006 and is currently one of the most prestigious tasting competitions in China. Its mission is to select the best wines for the rapidly growing Asian market. The samples are evaluated during a blind tasting, where experts examine only the characteristics of the wine, without taking into account the brand, price, or reputation of the producer. This year, the organizers introduced an additional consumer tasting, in which media personalities, opinion leaders and representatives of the restaurant business evaluated wines costing up to 100 yuan, creating an "everyday wine guide".

The main jury included international experts, including Master of Wine titleholders and candidates, as well as recognized experts in the Chinese wine industry. Judging is conducted according to strict international standards adapted to the taste preferences of Asian consumers.

"Our strategic work with the Chinese market is yielding results: Abrau-Durso Group wines are regularly presented at key industry events, including international exhibitions and professional competitions. Victories at SIWC, an important platform for the development of wine culture in China, are particularly significant. The prestigious awards won by Victor Dravigny Brut and Brut d’Or Blanc de Blancs will strengthen the position of the entire category of Russian sparkling wines among the country's consumers. And the impressive success of Tsimlyansky Black from Vedernykov Winery, created from the Don autochthonous variety of the same name, has once again confirmed the significance and potential of working with indigenous Russian varieties for domestic and international markets," commented Pavel Titov, president of the Abrau-Durso Group.

The contest is held with the support of Shanghai Waigaoqiao International Trade Operating Centre Co., Ltd., as well as with the participation of the CCPIT Shanghai Pudong Sub-Council and the Pudong Chamber of International Commerce. This year, the event was held under the motto "Innovation and Adaptation: Towards the Market" and aimed to make wine closer and more accessible to consumers’ everyday lives.

The official website of the contest: http://en.siwc.sh.cn/