Our Awards and Press
Our natural English reserve prevents us from bragging about the awards we have won. However, having won a gold medal and trophy in the International Wine Challenge for the first vintage of our iconic Balfour Brut Rosé, we are rightly proud to be one of the wineries flying the flag for English Wine. Our most recent award was a first for English Red Wines; ‘The Red Miller’ was awarded the IWC English Red Trophy, the first time in the competition’s 36-year history that an English Still Red wine has received this prestigious accolade.
We take pride in only entering industry recognised awards and only those in which wine industry professionals blind taste the wines. Our most recent highlights include:
- Mary Rose 2020 – Still Rosé of the Year Award – Tim Atkin MW 2022 Special English Wine Report 2022
- Gatehouse 2020 – Trophy: Joint Best Red Pinot Noir WineGB Awards, 2022
- Nannette’s Rose 2021 – Silver Medal International Wine Challenge, 2022
- Blanc de Noirs 2018 – Silver Medal International Wine Challenge, 2022
- Balfour 1503 – Silver Medal International Wine Challenge, 2022
- Luke’s Pinot Noir 2020 – Silver Medal International Wine Challenge, 2022
- Cinque Ports 2019 – Silver Medal International Wine Challenge, 2022
- Blanc de Blancs 2014 – Silver Medal International Wine Challenge, 2022
- Balfour Brut Rosé 2018 – Kent Wine of the Year at the Taste of Kent Awards 2022
- Balfour Brut Rose 2017 – 92 points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
- Blanc de Blancs 2014 – Gold Medal International Wine Challenge
- The Red Miller 2018 – International Wine Challenge National English Red Trophy
- Balfour 1503 Classic Cuvée- Decanter Gold Medal Winner, 2015
We are proud to be one of the wineries leading the way for English Wine. Our most recent award was a first for English red wines, the IWC awarded The Red Miller the National English red trophy. This is the first time in the competition’s 36-year history that an English red wine has received this prestigious accolade.
Awards are not exclusively for our wines, Owen Elias has been making wine at Balfour since our very first vintage in 2004 and we are proud to say has been awarded UK Winemaker of the Year on six occasions. His son, Fergus Elias is following in his footsteps, as one of England’s youngest winemakers.
Other awards:
- Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Awards – Best in Food and Drink 2022
For further information about our awards or press, please contact our Sales Director Adam Williams here.
Recent Press Articles
Anne Krebiehl: late-disgorged Balfour Brut Rosé shines at 20-year vertical
The 20 best orchards to visit in the UK – Emily Sargent for The Times
Top 100 summer wines: our critic’s guide
Cheap days out! Festivals, vineyard tours and gorgeous gardens – The Times
Balfour Brut Rosé: 20 years at the vanguard of English sparkling wine – Sylvia Wu for Decanter
12 best English sparkling wines for toasting special occasions – The Independent
Best English sparkling rosés 2022
Winner of Kent Wine of the Year at the Taste of Kent Awards 2022
100 Most Influential 2022 by Drinks Retailing
8 best English wines to have on your radar, from chardonnay to pinot noir by The Independent
It Can Be Done – Richard and Leslie Balfour-Lynn interviewed by Mid Kent Living
Jake’s Drinks owner takes a stake in Cellar Head Brewing by Beer Today