The Irpinia Winery Wins the Coveted “Best in Show” Medal for the First Time, the Award Goes to a Wine from Campania
“Exceptional quality, outstanding aromatic profiles, and the ability to stand out in a world-class competitive context”
June 27, 2025 (Italy) — A historic achievement for Campania: Donnachiara’s 2021 Taurasi has been selected among the 50 best wines in the world at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), earning the prestigious “Best in Show” medal — the highest recognition given by the renowned international competition.
The decision came from a panel of 248 of the world’s top wine experts, who evaluated thousands of entries from 57 countries through a rigorous selection process. The “Best in Show” medal represents absolute excellence: only 0.3% of all wines in the competition receive this award, following multiple blind tasting rounds, including regional panels, Platinum sessions, and the final assessment by the team of five Co-Chairs. The award celebrates exceptional quality, outstanding aromatic profiles, and the ability to shine in a global arena.
“When a wine is selected as Gold, it has already been tasted by several professionals and discussed extensively. Earning a Gold or Silver medal — and even more so a Platinum or Best in Show — truly means it is a wine of excellent, superior, extraordinary quality,” said Amanda Barnes MW, Regional Chair of the DWWA.
This year’s Best in Show selection celebrates global excellence with wines from 14 countries: Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, France, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Among this international wealth, the 50 Best in Show medals — representing about 0.3% of all entries — are reserved for the absolute best. These wines earned recognition through multiple blind tasting sessions, involving regional panels, Co-Chairs, Platinum rounds, and the final evaluation by the five Co-Chairs.
For Italy, six wines were awarded the Best in Show medal, including Donnachiara’s 2021 Taurasi — the first time a wine from Campania has received this recognition.
“This award is a tremendous source of pride for us and for the entire Irpinia region,” said Ilaria Petitto, owner of Donnachiara winery. “Receiving the Best in Show medal at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards is not only a testament to the dedication and quality we bring to our work every day, but also a historic milestone for Campania, which for the first time ranks among the world’s top 50 wines at the DWWA. Our 2021 Taurasi is the result of a vision that combines tradition, identity, and future. This prestigious and ambitious award is dedicated to my family, our team, and everyone who believes in the potential of our extraordinary land.”
