More than 20 wines produced in eight Kent vineyards have been recognised in one of the world's most influential competitions.

In its 37th year, the International Wine Challenge (IWC) is accepted as the most rigorous and impartial industry contest.

The judges blindly assess every wine that has been entered and score each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage.

Each IWC medal-winning wine will be tasted on three separate occasions by at least two panels of judges tasting together, and then tasted by two co-chairs to verify the panel results.

Once every wine has been assessed, it is given a score out of 100.

Those with 95 or more will get a Gold Medal and those earning 90 to 94 points will get a Silver Medal. Bronze Medals and Commended Awards are also available.

With English Wine Week coming to a close, here's how Kent's wines scored.

Squerryes

Judged alongside the world’s top Champagne and sparkling wine houses, Squerryes in Westerham was rated the best English wine producer, winning three out of four trophies and placing the brand in the top five globally.

Its 2014 Blanc de Blancs was awarded a gold trophy (96 points) for Best English Sparkling Wine and Best Blanc de Blancs.

It is described as rich and elegant on the nose with light floral and toasty notes, balanced on the palate with lemon and brioche.

Its 2011 Brut, was given the trophy for Best English Sparkling Classic Blend and a gold medal (96 points). It was described as having a citrus taste and touch of nuttiness.

'These recent awards are not only testament to that but also to the quality of our terroir and winemaking abilities here at Squerryes'

Squerryes’ owner, Henry Warde said: “Our family motto, ‘Licet Esse Beatis’, meaning ‘it is permitted to be joyful’, is at the heart of all we do and these recent awards are not only testament to that but also to the quality of our terroir and winemaking abilities here at Squerryes."

Its 2015 Brut, said to have lemon and lime notes with red fruit character and a hint of custard, earned a silver medal scoring 91 points.

All three of Squerryes wines awarded by the IWC have proved so popular, they have since sold out. But they can be sampled at the vineyards' new restaurant, The Bottle Store.

Woolton Farm

Produced just outside Canterbury, Woolton's Sparkling Rosé 2014 blends Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and is a dry wine is packed with cranberry and apple flavours.

It scored 95 points earning a gold medal and is sold in batches of three costing £114.00.

Woolton's still 2018 rosé, £60 for three bottles, was commended, while its still white wine, Bacchus 2018 won a silver medal (91 points).

Judges said it has a chalky finish with white pepper, elderflower, spearmint, grassy, freshly cut aromas. It is also sold in batches of three costing £54.

Its Cuveé No1, 2015,with red apple and brioche scents, was commended (£132 for three).

Balfour Hush Heath Estate

Set within the hills of Staplehurst, Hush Heath Estate is a family run business on land stretching over 400 acres.

It's Brut Rose, 2017 is its flagship wine and won a silver medal scoring 90 points.

It is described as having a complex tangerine, citrus and summer berry taste with vibrant English acidity and a refreshingly long finish.

The sparkling rosé costs £40 a bottle.

Also winning a silver medal was its Skyes Chardonnay, 2019.

The still rosé, with a "long cool, savoury and nutty finish", scored 90 points and costs £18.

Balfour's Blanc de Noirs, 2018, a sparkling white with hedgerow and flint aromas, won a silver medal (91 points) and costs £35.

Getting a bronze medal was the Balfour-produced Tesco Finest English White, 201, said to have a whiff of bramley apple and costing just £11, and the "fresh and peachy" Tesco Finest English Sparkling, NV, costing £21.

Commended were the Tesco Finest's English Sparkling Rose (£21) and the Suitcase Pinot Noir, 2018, a still red (£35).

Mereworth Wines

Dating back 500 years, Mereworth Wines in Maidstone boasts a long association with fruit and hop growing, with some of the first hops in the country planted there.

Its White From Black, 2018 proved its success when it earned a silver medal in the IWC

Judges said the sparkling white was delicate, super fresh, and had layers of character.

It scored 92 points and has since sold out.

Michelle Fairless from Mereworth Wines said: "We are very excited about how well our 2018 White From Black performed having previously won awards also in the International Wine and Spirit Competition and the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships - as our very first vintage, we couldn't be happier with how it has been received.

"We released this, our first wine, in April 2020 just as lockdown hit, so we opened up our cellar door at our winery to introduce people to our wines directly.

"We have actually now sold out of our White From Black, but we have just released our two new wines: our 2018 White From White, also from our first vintage, as well as our Sparkling Rosé."

Gusbourne Estate

Gusbourne's vineyards stretch across 60 hectares in Appledore, near Ashford and grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

Its "bright and zesty" Blanc de Blancs, 2016 won a silver medal, scoring 92 points for its brioche notes and long crisp finish.

The sparkling white cost £59.

Also winning silver was it's best-selling Brut Reserve, 2016.

It was said to have toasty brioche notes with melon and green apple.

The sparkling white, £39, scored 90 points, as did its Exclusive Release, 2016.

The sparkling white, with flower blossom, pear and brioche notes, is only available in Waitrose and costs £36.

Its "raspberry charged" Gusbourne's Rosé, 2016 scored 91 points, boasting a silver medal. A bottle costs £49.

Folc

Folc's near Canterbury crafts wines which are sustainably focused and naturally vegan.

Its English Rosé, 2020 is described as dry with aromas of wild raspberry, elderflower and pink grapefruit.

The still rosé scored 90 points earning it a silver medal.

A bottle of this award-winning wine costs £15.99.

Chapel Down

Chapel Down is one the UK’s largest winemakers and located in the beautiful Tenterden countryside.

Four of its wines earned silver medals including its Rosé Brut, NV, £24.42.

Judges gave the fruity fizz, "packed with honey blossom and apricots" 90 points.

Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs, 2015 and its "fresh floral notes" also scored highly in the silver category with 91 points.

The sparkling white costs £37.96.

Kit's Coty Coeur De Cuvée, 2015, (£100) a sparkling white with notes of citrus, green melon and toast, scored 94 points., while Kit's Coty Bacchus, 2019 earned 90.

This still white wine is described as having peachy fruit with an elderflower cordial kick and costs £26.

Chapel Down also boasts three bronze wins starting with its classic Non-Vintage Brut, NV, £23; Three Graces, 2016, £34.95 and Kit's Coty Chardonnay, 2018, £32.80.

Simpsons' Wine Estate

The vineyard is situated on the sunny slopes of the North Downs in Barham and is famed for its chalky soils which are perfect for producing still and sparkling wine.

It's Gravel Castle Chardonnay, 2020 earned a bronze medal in the IWC.

A bottle costs just £14 and judges said it was ideal for anyone seeking a still white with a tangy, zesty palate and a tropical note tinged with lemon zest.

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