Four Texas wineries made history this year at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), beating out hundreds of other vintners from around the world and becoming the first wineries from the Lone Star State to earn gold medals at one of the “largest and most influential” wine competitions in the world.
Producers from a total of 58 countries submitted nearly 17,000 wines for consideration this year. This was the United States’ strongest year to date at the prestigious competition, which is now in its 23rd year and, by its own accord, “has firmly established itself as the world’s largest wine competition.”
According to the Texas Hill Country Wineries trade association, the state also made its largest showing in Decanter history this year and its second-largest among United States contestants.
Texas wines earned 58 silver and 60 bronze medals this year, according to the organization. The state’s Iberian, Italian and Mediterranean varieties were named standouts.
Of the 122 Texas wines submitted, 62 earned 90+ points, placing Texas second among all American wine regions by that measure.
“Texas exceeded expectations,” U.S. regional chair James Tidwell, MS, said in a press release. “The most impressive new development was with Texas, which had a strong presence with entries. These entries were of consistently high quality, several of them reaching Gold medal status but dozens of others receiving silver and bronze medals,” he continued.
The Ab Astris winery’s Souzao 2022, the Turtle Creek winery’s Tannat 2023, the Adega Vinho winery’s Estate Tempranillo 2021, and Spicewood Vineyards’ Las Montañas 2022 each won a gold medal at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards.