Award-winning wines

What is an awarded wine ?

An awarded wine is a cuvée that has received a distinction at an official wine competition, judged blind by a panel of professionals: sommeliers, oenologists, specialist journalists and négociants. The medal, gold, silver or bronze depending on the competition's scoring system, certifies a recognised level of quality, regardless of the estate, the appellation or the bottle price. For the buyer, it provides an objective benchmark in a French wine landscape that counts several thousand different cuvées.

On Avenue des Vins, our awarded wines are available through direct sales from the winemaker's own cellar, with no intermediary. The freshness of the vintage and full traceability of the bottle are guaranteed from the estate to your table.

The major competitions represented in our selection

Our catalogue of awarded wines brings together cuvées distinguished by the most respected names in the industry:

• Guide Hachette des Vins - the annual bible of French wine, selected blind from tens of thousands of samples. Over 500 cuvées in our catalogue have been recognised by this guide.
• Concours Général Agricole de Paris - held at the Salon de l'Agriculture, one of the oldest and most demanding national competitions in France.
• Gilbert & Gaillard - an internationally recognised guide whose awards cover all French wine regions.
• Bettane & Desseauve - the reference guide for discerning enthusiasts, with precise vintage-by-vintage ratings.
• Wine Enthusiast - an influential American publication whose scores guide a demanding international audience.
• Robert Parker / Wine Advocate — the world reference for age-worthy wines and great vintages.
• Concours Féminalise and Vinalies Nationales - specialist competitions whose results reflect recognised sector expertise.

How to choose among awarded wines

A medal signals quality, but it does not tell the whole story. To refine your choice, cross three criteria: colour and style (structured red, mineral white, fruity rosé, dosed Champagne), your intended food pairing (game, fish, cheese, dessert) and cellaring potential depending on whether you want to open the bottle now or keep it for a few years. The filters on this page allow you to combine these criteria with wine region, grape variety, farming method, organic, biodynamic, HVE, and your budget.

Awarded wines and direct-from-producer sales: a natural match

Buying an awarded wine through direct sales on Avenue des Vins means accessing the recognised cuvée in optimal storage conditions: the bottle has never left the estate's cellar before your order. It is shipped directly by the winemaker, under the exact temperature and light conditions they have defined themselves. A wine that earned a Guide Hachette star deserves to reach your glass in the same condition it was in when the jury tasted it. That is precisely what the direct-from-producer model guarantees.

FAQ - Awarded Wines

What is the difference between a gold medal and a silver medal in a wine competition ?

Juries evaluate each wine blind on 100 points, following OIV criteria: colour, nose, palate and aromatic persistence. A gold medal is generally awarded for scores above 85/100, a silver medal between 82 and 85. Some competitions also distinguish Grande Médaille d'Or or Coup de Cœur (Guide Hachette) for wines reaching 90 points and above. Because tasting is always blind, neither the estate nor the bottle price influences the result.

Does an awarded wine have to be expensive ?

Not at all. The Concours Général Agricole and the Guide Hachette both recognise outstanding bottles under €10 every year, alongside grands crus priced above €50. A medal reflects a remarkable quality-to-style ratio, not a price range. In our selection, you will find awarded wines starting from €8 and exceptional cuvées well beyond €50.

Which food pairings work best with awarded wines ?

It depends on the style of the wine, not the medal. A supple, fruit-forward awarded red from the Languedoc pairs naturally with grilled meats or charcuterie. An awarded white Burgundy shines alongside noble fish or pressed cheeses. An awarded grower Champagne works equally well as an aperitif, with a starter, or with a low-sugar dessert. Use the "Food and wine" filter on this page to match a wine directly to your meal.

Can awarded wines be cellared ?

Yes, for some of them. Medals are awarded based on a wine's current expression, some awarded wines are designed to be enjoyed young (primeur wines, rosés, light whites), while others have an ageing potential of 5 to 15 years. The "Storage" filter on this page lets you browse cuvées by estimated keeping time, as indicated by the winemaker.

Which awarded wine should I choose as a gift ?

A medal adds instant reassurance to your gift. A Guide Hachette Coup de Cœur or a Robert Parker-rated bottle signals recognised quality without the recipient needing to know the estate in advance. For a festive occasion, an awarded grower Champagne is always a reliable choice. For a dinner gift, an awarded red from Bordeaux or the Rhône Valley offers both character and longevity. Our awarded selection covers all budgets, from €15 to over €100.

Which French wine regions produce the most award-winning wines ?

Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Languedoc and Champagne consistently produce the highest number of medal-winning wines across major competitions. Provence excels in rosés, the Loire Valley stands out for whites and sparkling wines, and Alsace regularly earns recognition for its aromatic varieties. Our awarded selection covers all major French wine regions — use the "Wine Region" filter to explore each one directly.

Which award-winning red wine goes with meat?

An award-winning red wine is chosen according to the meat, like any other red. A structured Bordeaux or Madiran suits grilled red meat, a Burgundy Pinot Noir poultry or veal. The medal guarantees the quality of the cuvée, not the pairing. See our selection red wines and red meats.

Which award-winning white wine goes with fish?

A crisp, dry award-winning white from the Loire or Burgundy goes with grilled fish and seafood. For fish in a sauce, choose a fuller white. Find these pairings in the selection wines for fish.

Which award-winning wine should you choose for a festive meal?

For a festive meal, choose an award-winning wine for each course: a Champagne or crémant for the aperitif, an age-worthy red with the main course. A sweet wine such as a Sauternes pairs with foie gras or dessert. For a single wine across the meal, choose a blended Champagne or a supple red.

Why buy awarded wines directly from the producer rather than in a supermarket ?

In retail, an awarded wine often passes through several logistics intermediaries before reaching the shelf, sometimes stored in uncontrolled conditions. On Avenue des Vins, every bottle is shipped directly by the partner winemaker from their own cellar, at the price they set themselves, with no distributor margin. The awarded cuvée arrives at your door in the same conditions under which it was judged.

Explore also: Award-winning independent growers - Our selections - Discovery boxes