DWWA 2026 Best in Show: The sweet and fortified wines that made it to the top

The 2026 competition saw a remarkable performance from traditional strongholds in Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Hungary. These wines, characterized by long aging and meticulous production methods, stood out for their ability to convey a profound sense of place—a concept often referred to as terroir—while maintaining the structural integrity required for decades of cellar maturation. From the volcanic soils of Santorini to the 13th-century cellars of Tokaj, the winning entries tell a story of resilience and stylistic evolution.

The Chronology of Excellence: Time as a Winemaking Ingredient

In the realm of fortified wine, time is more than a metric; it is a fundamental ingredient. The 2026 DWWA results highlighted this through the success of the Kopke 1957 Colheita Port. This wine, which earned a Best in Show title and 97 points, presents a unique oenological riddle: it was vinified in the mid-20th century—specifically the year the Soviet Union launched Sputnik—yet was only bottled in early 2026. This extended period of wood aging allows for a transformation that cannot be replicated by modern technology.

Kopke, established in 1638, holds the title of the oldest Port house in existence. Their specialization in aged Tawnies and Colheitas (single-harvest Tawnies) has set a global benchmark. Master blender Carlos Alves noted that these wines are "genuine symbols of their time." Unlike Vintage Ports, which age primarily in the bottle, Colheitas like the 1957 release undergo a slow, oxidative maturation in seasoned oak casks for at least seven years, though often for decades. This process results in what the DWWA judges described as "unrivaled finesse, subtlety, and soft-fruited grace," with a palate showing immense concentration of dried fruits, cinnamon, and citrus.

The 2026 results also brought attention to the 2018 vintage in the Douro Valley. Despite a challenging growing season marked by two years of drought followed by a deluge in March and extreme summer heat exceeding 45°C, Cockburn’s Quinta Dos Canais Single Quinta Vintage Port 2018 secured a Best in Show award. This success illustrates a broader trend in the region: when producers choose not to declare a full "Vintage" year, the focused production of Single Quinta wines often results in exceptional quality that rivals traditional blends.

Sherry: The Complex Evolution of Oenological Treasures

Spain’s Sherry region, particularly the "Sherry Triangle" of Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María, and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, provided some of the competition’s most striking entries. The Bodegas Tradición VORS 30 Years Amontillado earned a near-perfect 98 points. The VORS designation (Vinum Optimum Rare Signatum, or Very Old Rare Sherry) requires an average age of at least 30 years, often incorporating solera components that are significantly older.

Technical director Miguel Villa detailed the dual-phase aging process that defines this style. The wine begins with a decade of biological aging under a "veil of flor" (yeast), which imparts saline and nutty nuances. This is followed by over 20 years of oxidative aging after the flor dies off. The result is a wine of "apothecary essence," featuring notes of coffee, bitter almonds, and dried sage.

Further highlighting the diversity of the region, the Lustau Almacenista Antonio Caballero y Sobrinos Amontillado (97 points) and the Valdespino Ynocente Fino (97 points) also achieved Best in Show status. The Lustau entry represents the "Almacenista" tradition—independent stockists who age small lots of exceptional wine. Meanwhile, the Valdespino Ynocente, a Fino Pasado style, challenges the notion of Fino as a young, simple wine. By allowing the wine to age longer than standard Finos, Valdespino creates a "statuesque and resonant" profile characterized by deep golden hues and savory coastal tang.

Santorini’s Vinsanto: The Historical Soul of the Aegean

The 2026 awards reaffirmed the global standing of Greece’s Estate Argyros, whose Vinsanto Late Release 2005 was awarded 98 points. Vinsanto is arguably the most historic wine of Santorini, serving as the stylistic ancestor to the Vin Santo of Italy and the fortified wines of Madeira.

Winemaker Matthew Argyros explained that the wine’s complexity is rooted in a traditional blend of indigenous varieties, primarily Assyrtiko. After harvest, the grapes are sun-dried for 12 to 14 days, a process that naturally concentrates sugars and acidity. The Vinsanto Late Release 2005 remained in old oak casks for 16 years before bottling. The DWWA judges praised its "powerful but impressively harmonious aromas of fig, date, and honeyed baklava," noting that the volcanic saltiness of the island provides a distinctive finish. This wine exemplifies the "seaborne, oxidative" style that dominated Mediterranean trade during the Venetian Empire.

The Renaissance of Tokaji: Oremus and the Hungarian Legacy

Hungary’s Tokaj region, the first demarcated wine region in the world, continued its streak of excellence with the Oremus Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2016. This wine marks a significant milestone for the region at DWWA, being the first 6 Puttonyos Aszú to enter the Best in Show collection.

Oremus was established in 1993 by the Álvarez family (owners of Spain’s legendary Vega Sicilia) with the specific goal of restoring the prestige of Tokaji after decades of state control during the communist era. The "6 Puttonyos" designation refers to the ratio of botrytized "Aszú" berries added to the base juice—traditionally six baskets (puttonyos) per 136-liter barrel. Winemaker András Bacsó noted that while the process remains deeply traditional, modern equipment is now used to "guide every process" to ensure precision. The 2016 vintage was lauded for its notes of linden tea, autumn leaves, and honeyed walnuts, underpinned by the "alertness and vim" of its natural acidity.

Supporting Data and Technical Specifications

The following table summarizes the technical data of the key 2026 DWWA Best in Show winners in the sweet and fortified categories:

Broader Impact and Market Implications

The success of these wines at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards reflects a broader shift in the global wine market. While dry table wines continue to dominate volume sales, there is a growing appreciation for "meditation wines"—styles that offer historical depth and artisanal uniqueness. The high scores for wines like the 30-year-old Madeira from Henriques & Henriques (97 points) suggest that consumers and critics alike are placing a premium on wines that exhibit extreme concentration and "rancio" complexity.

Industry analysts suggest that the recognition of these traditional styles provides a necessary economic boost to regions that face high production costs. The manual labor involved in harvesting botrytized grapes in Tokaj or sun-drying grapes on the terraces of Santorini makes these wines expensive to produce. Award recognition at the DWWA level serves as a vital validation of these costs, helping to preserve ancient viticultural landscapes that might otherwise be abandoned for more profitable, less labor-intensive crops.

Furthermore, the 2026 results highlight the role of climate resilience. The success of the 2018 Port and the 2016 Tokaji demonstrates that even in years of climatic extremes, the expertise of veteran winemakers and the inherent quality of historic vineyard sites can produce world-class results. As the wine industry continues to navigate a changing environment, the lessons learned from these "liquid treasures" of the past will likely inform the viticulture of the future. The 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards have not just celebrated old wines; they have celebrated the enduring relevance of patience, tradition, and the pursuit of perfection in the bottle.