Australian wineries are celebrating their success at the 2012 International Wine Challenge with a record 69 Gold medal winning wines – an increase of almost 15 per cent year on year.

Australia also retained its world ranking position at number two, behind France, and was the country with the highest percentage of wines entered which received awards (83 per cent).

The International Wine Challenge 2012 took place in London this week, with the results being announced today at the London International Wine Fair.

A number of Australian wineries picked up more than one of the highly coveted Gold medals. Australian Vintage Limited led the way with seven Gold medal wins, Wolf Blass Wines won six, and Hardys Wines and Yalumba won four each.

Australia’s iconic red, Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon was one of two Gold medals awarded to Penfolds Wines.

France topped the medal board overall with a total of 1,136 medals, while Australia came second with 673 and Portugal third with 444.

Over 400 experienced judges, including many Masters of Wine, meticulously tasted the International Wine Challenge’s medal-winning wines, with each wine being tested at least three, and sometimes up to six, times, with marks for faithfulness to variety, country, region and vintage.

Charles Metcalfe, Co-Chairman of the International Wine Challenge, says: “The  International Wine Challenge is the most prestigious and influential wine contest in the world. Its global reputation means that winning an award is a tremendous achievement, and brings the award-winning wine to the attention of an international audience.”

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