 Australia was a close second with four international trophies but it had entered hundreds of more wines, reports Decanter.
The Judgment at Paris 1976 seems to be repeated with a Germany Pinot Noir winning the best International Trophy against the best of Burgundy, Chile and New Zealand.
South Africa won 12 Regional Trophies including International Bordeaux Varietal Trophy (Under £10) and the International Rhone Varietal Trophy (Over £10). Cederberg Shiraz won in the Rhone category, while Stellenbosch-based Amani Vineyards Cabernet Franc-Merlot took the Bordeaux Trophy.
 South Africa also did well in Chardonnay, winning the International Trophies in both the Under £10 and Over £10 categories with Paul Cluver Elgin and Rustenberg Five Soldiers respectively. They beat the best of Burgundy, Australia and Washington State.
It also captured the International Sauvignon Blanc Under £10 Trophy, beating top Chilean and even the famous New Zealand Sauvignon varietals.
 The Ahr based Meyer-Näkel Winery won the International for its Dernauer Pfarrwingert Spätburgunder 'Grosses Gewächs' 2005 costing £40, against the Wild Earth Pinot from Central Otago, New Zealand, Cono Sur Ocio from Casablanca, Chile and the Maison Camille Giroud Chambertin Grand Cru 2006, from Burgundy.
The Decanter World Wine Awards attracted a record 9219 entries more than double the entries in the first event five years ago.
Clue to the success of the Ahr's narrow, south-facing valley lies in a microclimate warmed by mists from the River Ahr. Decanter tastings director Christelle Guibert said, 'It's a fantastic achievement for Germany to win a Pinot Noir trophy. Imagine it – they have beaten Burgundy, New Zealand, Oregon – all the great acknowledged Pinot regions of the world.'
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