Twelve times in London, twelve times ‘Sweet Winemaker of the Year’
Austrian winemaker Hans Tschida has been named ‘Sweet Winemaker of the Year’ in London for the twelfth time, continuing to make history in the world of sweet wines. No other winemaker has received this prestigious award from the International Wine Challenge so many times. The achievement also puts Austrian wine in the international spotlight.
Vienna, 9 September 2026
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When a winemaker is invited to the annual International Wine Challenge (IWC) awards ceremony at the historic Guildhall in London, only the nomination is certain. Until the envelope is opened, everything remains up in the air. Will the title go to Hans Tschida from the Angerhof Tschida winery this year, or to Aleksandar Kolundzic from the Canadian Pillitteri Estates Winery? And then the moment arrives: it’s Hans Tschida! The winemaker from Illmitz in Burgenland, Austria, is crowned ‘Sweet Winemaker of the Year’ and called onto the stage. “For the incredible twelfth time! And yet the tension before the announcement is the same every single time,” says Hans Tschida. “You don’t know until that very last moment whether you’ll be called onto the stage. That’s why every single title is something very special. For me, above all, it’s a confirmation of the passion we put into our wines every day.”
Austrian Sweet Trophy and 14 IWC medals. The wines from the Angerhof Tschida estate impressed the international jury across the board. As well as being named ‘Sweet Winemaker of the Year’, the winemaking family is delighted to have won the ‘Austrian Sweet Trophy’ for the Sämling 88 Trockenbeerenauslese Ried Domkapitel 2021, which was judged best Austrian sweet wine. In addition, the wines entered were awarded three gold, seven silver and four bronze medals.
Austrian wine history. Hans Tschida began writing his extraordinary success story as the world’s finest sweet wine producer in 2010 and continued it in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and now 2026. Nationally, too, he ranks among Austria’s leading winemakers and receives prestigious awards year after year. For example, the title ‘SALON National Winner 2026’ at Austria’s most important wine competition, ‘SALON Österreich Wein’, went to the Muskat Ottonel Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve Seewinkel 2023.
Consistency in the vineyard and the cellar. For Hans Tschida and his family, consistent work in the vineyard and the cellar is paramount. Their aim is to produce sweet wines that showcase varietal character, balance and great ageing potential.
“We are absolutely delighted to have won our twelfth title. But ultimately, it’s always about the wine. Every year, we want to make wines that we stand behind one hundred per cent and that showcase the unique character of our region,” says Daniela Salzl-Tschida, who runs the winery alongside her father.
The International Wine Challenge. The IWC is one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world. A high-calibre panel of judges comprising Masters of Wine, wine producers, wine merchants and specialist journalists assesses the wines submitted from all over the world. The ‘Sweet Winemaker of the Year’ award is one of the most important international honours for producers of sweet wines. internationalwinechallenge.com
The Angerhof Tschida Winery. Hans Tschida, together with his family, cultivates thirty hectares of vineyards in the Seewinkel region of Burgenland. The unique microclimate around Lake Neusiedl and the mineral-rich soils create ideal conditions for the production of high-quality sweet wines. The family-run winery specialises in the production of Prädikat wines – ranging from Spätlese and Auslese, through Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese, to Eiswein and Schilfwein.
‘Sweet wine in perfection’ is the winery’s motto. Its philosophy can be summed up even more concisely: ‘Stay Sweet!’
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Weingut Angerhof Tschida
Angergasse 5, 7142 Illmitz, Austria
Tel. +43 2175 3150, Email: weingut@angerhof-tschida.at
angerhof-tschida.at
Further enquiries:
Sylvia Petz, MA MSc, E-Mail: sp@sylvia-petz.at, Tel. +43 699 11008040
Sylvia Petz | Agency for organised enjoyment
Gumpendorfer Strasse 16/8, 1060 Vienna, sylvia-petz.at
