The Sommelier Wine Awards is the only global wine competition dedicated exclusively to the on-trade sector. Judged by a panel of leading sommeliers and on-trade wine buyers, the awards recognise and celebrate the finest wines available to restaurants, bars, and hotels in the UK and beyond.
We are pleased to share that we have won two of the Merchant Awards at the 2026 Sommelier Wine Awards, alongside being shortlisted for New World Merchant of the Year and Fine Wine Merchant of the Year.
Large Merchant of the Year
"Much-deserved recognition for Liberty's portfolio, with this leading importer landing Large Merchant of the Year, with 21% of its entries receiving a gold medal. Liberty also received two trophies for its wines - Sherry of the Year, the Amontillado 'Tio Diego' Pago de Macharnudo, and Dessert Wine of the Year, for the Old Vine Rutherglen Muscat, drawn from as far apart as Jerez and Australia's Rutherglen.
Liberty's award in this slot was also notable in that its entries showed an even split of representation from both Old and New World countries, with gold-winning wines coming from France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Australia, Chile and Uruguay. Almost all the wines Liberty entered received a medal of some kind (93%), completing this worthy and award-winning picture."
Classic Old World Merchant
"Some 93% of Liberty's Classic Old World wines took a medal, with by far the largest slice of golds in the category, coming in at an impressive 25% of entries. Digging down a little deeper, France accounted for 40% of those gold medals, with Burgundian producer Domaine Changarnier being a prime example with its Monthélie 'Pierrefitte' 2023.
In terms of winning wines set against entries, Liberty's medal tally was impressive, revealing the overall quality of its Old World portfolio.
Portugal was particularly strong, with the Douro joined by several other winemaking regions, and Italy - a specialism - also fared well, with Tuscany, Piedmont and Lombardy standing out.
Jerez similarly took several medals, with the sherry entrants doing well."
In addition, the following wines and producers received Awards, Trophies and Gold Medals at the 2026 Sommelier Wine Awards.
For more information about purchasing any of these wines, please contact your Account Manager. Not yet a customer? Contact Us to discuss opening an account.
Sherry of the Year
Valdespino, Amontillado `Tio Diego` Pago de Macharnudo, Spain NV
By The Glass Trophy
Gold Medal
“There's real depth of flavour here, with notes of almond and dried fruits, as well as incredible salinity and freshness. Extremely well balanced, with a beautiful texture.”
Zoé Donadio, Apricity Restaurant
“Umami aromas, elegant and full bodied, with a long finish.”
Miléna De Waele, Pétrus
“Notes of tobacco and almond, with a yeasty finish.”
Francesco Di Fonzo, Kioku by Endo, Raffles London at The OWO
Fortified Wine of the Year
Chambers Rosewood, Old Vine Rutherglen Muscat, Australia NV
“A balanced and complex wine that's showing signs of evolving.”
Klearhos Kanellakis, Jul's Restaurants
“A rich character here, that feels luxurious on the palate, with a fine, slightly sweet finish.”
George Hersey, Adam Handling Collection
“This is showing some lovely caramel and honey notes - a sticky wine that needs food.”
Konstantinos Katridis, The Fat Duck
Critic's Choice Awards
House of Arras, Tasmania Grand Vintage, Tasmania, Australia 2016
“Opening with ripe citrus and stone fruit on the nose, the palate here is crisp and refreshing, with an elegant, persistent mousse, notes of brioche and toast, and a mineral finish.”
Maria Boumpa, Da Terra Restaurant
“Quite an exotic nose, with papaya and a hint of yoghurt. Full bodied and rich.”
Donald Edwards, consultant sommelier
Henschke, `Henry's Seven`, Barossa, Australia 2024
Gold Medal
“Opening with some fresh red and black fruit notes, there's some spicy character here, such as pepper, as well as some oak in evidence.”
Konstantinos Katridis, The Fat Duck
“A very well made wine with great fruit expression and a smooth palate.”
Klearhos Kanellakis, Jul's Restaurants
“Delicious, with spice aromas alongside bright fruit. Very rich in flavour, with dark fruit, spice and subtle tannins.”
George Hersey, Adam Handling Collection
Henschke, `Peggy’s Hill` Riesling, Eden Valley, Australia 2025
By The Glass Trophy
Gold Medal
“An elegant and refreshing wine with deep, golden honey complexity.”
Konstantinos Nestoridis, Oblix at The Shard
“Lime juice, green apple and white orange blossom make this wine stylistically and varietally expressive. Electric acidity is balanced by a touch of residual sugar that add viscous body and weight, with a flinty finish.”
Augusto Gherardi, consultant sommelier
Montes Outer Limits, Zapallar Albariño, Colchagua Valley, Chile 2025
By The Glass Trophy
Gold Medal
“A great example, with good salinity and a hint of reduction - this is a wine that has great precision and purity of fruit.”
Lorenzo Tonelli, consultant sommelier
“Mineral, with some citrus fruit and a touch of smoke.”
Marianna Sivalli, Vinoteca
“Beautiful citrus fruit, and mineral too, with linear acidity.”
Elton Muço, 67 Pall Mall
Domaine Desvignes, Givry Rouge 1er Cru `Cuvée Ozymandias`, Burgundy, France 2023
Gold Medal
“A beautiful nose with bright fruit, including cherry and blackcurrant.”
George Hersey, Adam Handling Collection
“There's very nice fruit here, leading to a chalky palate and a long finish.”
Klearhos Kanellakis, Jul's Restaurants
“This has great ageing potential, showing some tertiary character.”
Irene Banet, Medlar
“Both fruity and spicy, this has complexity, and is very well balanced too.”
Konstantinos Katridis, The Fat Duck
Domaine Laroche, Chablis 1er Cru `Les Vaillons` Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy, France 2024
Gold Medal
“A rich and opulent nose, with white peach and ripe apple, and a hint of marzipan and almond, leading to a palate with great freshness and salinity, that lingers with green apple notes.”
Chiara Sieni, consultant sommelier
“A mellow nose showing integrated aromas of vanilla, toast, flint and ripe lemon verbena, leading to a palate that is round and textured, with broad shoulders and great balance, giving way to a generous, long finish.”
Alberto Gherardi, consultant sommelier
Isole e Olena, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy 2022
By The Glass Trophy
Gold Medal
“A bright ruby colour, with vibrant aromatics of ripe cherries, dried oregano, sun blushed tomatoes and a hint of spice, with round, ripe tannins on the palate. Beautifully balanced, and a great gastronomic wine.”
Natasha Senina, Chewton Glen
“Vibrant red fruit, such as red cherry and redcurrant, with great acidity and tannins, this is very well balanced.”
Giovanni Andriulo, Oswald's
Quinta dos Carvalhais, Dão Encruzado, Portugal 2024
By The Glass Trophy
Gold Medal
“Great intensity on the nose, showing ripe fruit and all the right signs of lees ageing, with everything well integrated.”
Giovanni Andriulo, Oswald's
“Crisp and lively minerality and acidity lead to a savoury, slightly nutty finish. I love the complexity and freshness at the same time - a great by the glass option.”
Maria Cintoli, Evelyn's Table
De Loach, `California Collection` Zinfandel, USA 2024
Gold Medal
“A lovely aromatic nose with a vibrant fruit profile, and some lovely acidity on the palate. Very good value.”
Emer Landgraf, The Clove Club
“A youthful wine with red fruit and floral notes, like a hit of rose water, culminating in a fresh, uplifting finish.”
Filipe Bhering Reis, Annabel's
“An expressive nose leading to some cocoa and coffee-like bitterness on the palate to balance the oily and ripe jammy fruit content.”
Sam Weatherill, Etch
Gold Medals
Henschke, `Keyneton Euphonium`, Barossa, Australia 2022
“Some amazing spice notes are balanced by some great wild fruit here.”
Irene Banet, Medlar
“Complex, dense and viscous, with evidence of some high quality oak.”
Klearhos Kanellakis, Jul's Restaurants
“A good expression of the grape in warm conditions, with great fruit.”
George Hersey, Adam Handling Collection
Domaine Changarnier, Monthélie `Pierrefitte`, Burgundy, France 2023
“An excellent wine that's elegant, adult and complex.”
George Hersey, Adam Handling Collection
“There's nice fruit on this youthful wine, with some slight tannins.”
Klearhos Kanellakis, Jul's Restaurants
“Very well balanced, with great red fruit notes.”
Irene Banet, Medlar
“A fresh wine with some oak influence, combining primary notes with a creaminess.”
Konstantinos Katridis, The Fat Duck
Domaine Changarnier, Monthélie 1er Cru `Meix Bataille`, Burgundy, France 2023
“Outstanding quality here, with a combination of primary and secondary characters, and balance throughout.”
Konstantinos Katridis, The Fat Duck
“A rich and complex wine that's showing some intense fruit notes.”
George Hersey, Adam Handling Collection
“With its great balance, this would be good to drink now, as well as with a bit of ageing.”
Irene Banet, Medlar
Bodega Garzón Reserve, Albariño, Maldonado, Uruguay, 2025
“Powerful notes of peach, pear and apricot here, with a saline minerality too. Superb concentration, and a long finish.”
Adam Michocki, consultant sommelier
“A rich, pronounced nose, and a savoury, salty palate with a peach and apricot character, and a lovely silky, rounded aftertaste.”
Bianca Potenza, consultant sommelier
“A generous nose of exotic fruit leads to a fruity palate with lime and stone fruit, and a saline finish.”
Nikos Emner, Woven By Adam Smith
For more information about purchasing any of these wines, please contact your Account Manager. Not yet a customer? Contact Us to discuss opening an account.