The Process

80% of the IWC 2023 entrants are very satisfied with the overall organisation of the IWC.*

Why Trust the IWC Process?

• Fair and Unbiased Assessment: Our judges are dedicated to fairness, ensuring every entry undergoes a comprehensive and impartial evaluation. 
• Brand-Free Evaluation: Judges assess wines without brand knowledge, allowing your wines to be judged solely on their inherent qualities.
• Your Wine Stands Alone: At the IWC, we embrace the uniqueness of each wine. Entries are evaluated purely on their merits, offering a genuine representation of quality and character.
• Global experts: Our diverse global panel of expert judges, as opposed to region-specific, ensures a well-rounded evaluation.

'Wineries should enter the IWC because they know they will be rigorously judged by highly skilled global judges and by the co-chairs who, between them, will cover every possible style of wine that the world has to offer.'

Oz Clarke, IWC Co-Chair

IWC Processing: Three Essential Stages

1. Sample Arrival

Upon arrival at our depot, each wine undergoes meticulous scrutiny. It is checked, assigned a unique code, repackaged to maintain anonymity, and then dispatched to the designated tasting venue, fully prepared for the judging process.

2. Sorting and Photographing

In our temperature-controlled storage facility, wines are carefully organised by style and country, making them readily accessible for evaluation. This stage also involves photographing the wines, a valuable visual reference for our website.

3. Picking and Flighting

Wines are selected from the shelves and grouped into 'tasting flights.' Each flight consists of wines sharing similar styles and originating from the same country and region. These flights are placed into blind tasting bags, with unique identifiers to conceal their true identity. This meticulous process ensures that all wines are on an equal footing before they reach the judging panel.

IWC Judging: Three Rigorous Stages 

1. Round One

During Round One, wines are subject to initial assessment. They are either marked as 'out,' awarded a Commended designation, or advanced to the next round as potential medal winners. All wines marked as 'out' or 'Commended' are re-tasted by the IWC Co-Chairs to confirm the mark. Wines deemed eligible may be re-entered into Round Two for further evaluation.

2. Round Two

Round Two involves a more detailed assessment, where wines are marked as 'out,' awarded a Commended designation, or distinguished with Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals. Points are also assigned to the wines at this stage. The IWC Co-Chairs re-taste all wines to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the results.

3. Trophy Tasting

Exceptional wines that receive Gold medals progress to the Trophy judging stage. Here, Regional and National Trophies are conferred. All Trophy-winning wines undergo a final evaluation by the IWC Co-Chairs, who award the prestigious Champion Wine Trophies.

Sustainability 

Once the judging process concludes, we prioritise sustainability. All bottles, residual wine, packaging materials, and corks are diligently recycled, reflecting our commitment to environmental responsibility.



*IWC Survey - May 2023