International Wine Challenge from the kitchen – Epilogue

The basic criterion for accepting wine for the competition is that it is commercially available. The organizer is very determined to protect the identity of the samples at all times. The bottles are stripped of all traces that could lead to identifying the producer - including removing metal skirts from screw cap bottles, and decanting bottles of unusual shape that could be recognized by touch - and placed into plastic bags. Then it is all up to the experienced noses and palates of the judges.

For Act 1 click here

For Act 2 click here

Rigorous tasting procedure ensures unbiased judging regardless of style of wine, its place of origin or grape. The aim of it is to guarantee that all of them have a fair chance to win an award. There are six medal categories including Trophy, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Commended and Great Value. The winning wines are tasted on a minimum three separate occasions, and their producers can count on a global media coverage exceeding 750 million potential consumers.

There were 11 days of tasting. Most of them intense, some incredibly. An average of close to 2500 bottles were opened every day! There were moments of huge pressure on the entire team to keep up the pace uncorking, carrying, serving, and so on, to the point that there seemed to be a scent of adrenaline among the gooseberry, blackcurrant and oak notes.

When the event was wrapped up, the wine gone, the installations dismantled, a huge empty space lit by afternoon sun was finally quiet. The messengers served their purpose and the news is being spread. Wine competitions do make sense and make a big difference to both the wine industry and the consumers, regardless of how informed they are, as they stimulate the producers to constantly work on the quality and innovate. And that’s great news for all of us.

The end.


For Act 1 click here

For Act 2 click here

To browse the IWC Award Winning Wines please click here 

A Polish version of the IWC articles was published in Magazyn Wino