A total 8 397 wines and spirits from 52 producer countries competed in Portugal from May 4 to 6 before a hand-picked selection of some of the world’s foremost tasters. Sommeliers, wine buyers, importers, journalists and wine writers - in all 320 wines and spirits tasters representing 40 nationalities - gathered for 3 days to judge this year’s entries. The diverse range both of entries and backgrounds of the tasters themselves is one of the archetypal features of a competition that in just a few years has emerged as a world wine and spirits ‘tasting championship’. To provide consumers with a reliable buying cue, a total 2 435 medals were awarded this year and preliminary results indicate that France retains its leadership position with 670 medals, followed by Spain (461 medals), Portugal (297 medals), Italy (257), Chile (160), South Africa (98), Switzerland (65) and Australia (57). Portugal - this year's host country - made significant strides in 2012 both in terms of volume and quality of entries (925 entries, up 44 percent). As is customary, less than 1 percent of the 8 397 entries were awarded a Grand Gold Medal. As usual, Spain leads the way in this prestigious category with 21 of the highly coveted medals (followed by France with 15 medals and Italy and Portugal, joint third with 10). Entries achieving this ultimate gratification include five wines and one spirit awarded the ‘Best Wine Trophy’ for the highest score in their category: • Best Sparkling: Joly-Champagne Cuvée Spéciale (Champagne – France) • Best White: Hacienda Zorita Verdejo 2011 (Rueda – Spain) • Best Rosé: Theopetra Estate Rosé 2011 (Meteora – Greece) • Best Red: Poliphonia Signature 2008 (Vinho Regional / Alentejo – Portugal) • Best Sweet: Samos Nectar White 2008 (Samos – Greece) • Best Spirit: La Botija Pisco Italia 2011 (Chincha – Perou) The South African Gold Medal winners were: Abalone 1e Hoop Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Spier Wines 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2010 Boschendal 1685 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Brampton Shiraz 2009 Bellingham The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2010 Cloof Wine Estate The Very Sexy Shiraz 2009 Cirrus Syrah 2008 Cirrus Syrah 2009 Dieu Donné the Cross Collection Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Douglas Green Chenin Blanc 2011 Du Toit Family Driehoek Shiraz 2010 Fairview Eenzaamheid 2009 Fairview Viognier 2010 Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2011 Fairview Primo Pinotage 2010 Franschhoek Cellar Franschhoek Statue de Femme Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2008 Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2009 Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2011 Klipdrift Gold 3-21 Year Old La Motte Shiraz 2009 Rust en Vrede Stellenbosch Ridge 2009 Saronsberg Brut Methode Cap Classique 2008 Saronsberg Full Circle 2009 Spier Wines Savanha Naledi Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Spier Wines Savanha Naledi Merlot 2009 Spier Creative Block 3 2009 Spier Creative Block 8 2010 Spier Private Collection Merlot 2009 Spier Private Collection Shiraz 2009 Thelema Shiraz 2009 Van Ryn's 10 year Old Vintage Brandy For more information and a full list of results please visit www.concoursmondial.com.