How to enter

Getting Started

Login or Create an Account: If you're new to the IWC or need a quick refresh, start by logging in or creating an account here. For queries regarding your company's existing account, please contact Crhis Ashton.
Fill Out the Wine Entry Form: In your account, you'll find the wine entry form. To assist you, we've compiled a checklist of mandatory data required for each wine. Completing this form accurately is crucial for a smooth entry process.
Submit Your Entries: After filling out the form, proceed to payment. You can choose to pay via credit card or request an invoice at checkout.
Prepare Your Samples: Each wine entry requires four bottles. Make sure you've securely packaged your samples for safe transit.
Labeling and Shipping: Print the IWC barcode delivery label and airway bill (emailed to you with your entry confirmation). Write the number of bottles in each box on the delivery label, then attach both the label and airway bill to the box. Ship your samples using one of the following methods:
- Private Courier
- Hellman Consolidated Shipping
- Via Your UK Importer

Stay Informed

We shall keep you updated with deadlines for Tranche 1 via email and social media.

ENTER NOW

Additional Resources

To review the detailed rules of entry, please click here.
To download your entry kit, please click here.

Need Assistance?

If you require any assistance or have questions during the entry process, our dedicated IWC team is here to help. You can find our contact details here.

Join us in the pursuit of wine excellence at the IWC. We look forward to celebrating your exceptional wines with the world.

Rules of Entry International Wine Challenge 2026 ('IWC')

1. Organiser & Data Controller

The organiser and data controller of the IWC is:

IWC Events Ltd

12 St. George’s Industrial Estate, White Lion Road, Amersham, HP7 9JQ
Tel: +44 (0)7884 063405
Email: info@iwcevents.com

By entering the IWC, all entrants will be deemed to have consented to the transfer of their personal data to the data controller for the purposes of the administration of the IWC and any other purposes to which the entrant has consented.

2. Availability of wines in the UK

If the wines you are entering are available in the UK it is preferred that your UK representative submit the wines on your behalf. If your wines are not available in the UK and you wish to enter the Discovery Tasting please ensure you answer 'yes' to question 2 on the entry form and pay the additional fee.

3. Entry Fee

Online entry £170 per wine plus VAT*.
The deadline for Tranche1 Early Bird entries is 22^nd August 2025. Use the discount code "IWCEarlyBird" at the checkout screen to receive a 5% discount.
Entry into the Discovery Tasting costs £90 per wine plus VAT* in addition to IWC entry fee.
International samples shipped (4 bottles per entry) using our approved shipping partner is an additional £60 (Old World) or £68 (New World) plus VAT*
- International samples shipped using our approved shipping partner for entries that include the Discovery Tasting must include 2 extra samples.

*UK only. European companies with a valid VAT registration number do not have to pay UK VAT. Countries outside the EU do not pay UK VAT.

Entry fees must be received prior to 24th October 2025 for Tranche 1 or 27th March 2026 for Tranche 2 or the entry will be disqualified.

4. Payment Methods

Online payment can be made by most credit cards. You can also request an invoice in £, € or US$.

5. Entry forms

Entries must be submitted by: 17th October 2025 for Tranche 1 or 20th March 2026 for Tranche 2.

6. Criteria for entry

a. Wine that is produced for commercial availability (cellar door, online or in store) can enter.
b. All wines submitted must be made solely from the partial or complete alcoholic fermentation of grapes or grape must.
c. All wines must be labelled in accordance with the European Union provisions. Showing the name of the region and geographical area of origin of the wines.
d. Wines produced in one country and bottled in another are allowed to enter the competition.
e. All wines submitted must be sold fitted with a non-reusable sealing or closing device. The IWC accept sealed screwcap bottles which will be opened during the competition.
f. Unfinished samples will not be judged by the International Wine Challenge.
g. Temporary labels are accepted but the information that appears on these labels must be the same as the information that will appear on the final label.
h. By entering the IWC you consent to your bottles being photographed for the image to be uploaded against your result on the IWC Website. Temporary labels will need updating with final bottle image, so please avoid using temporary labels.

7. Samples

There are two tastings for the 2026 competition which will take place in November 2025 and April 2026. The delivery deadlines for samples are:

Tranche 1

Wines sent via consolidated shipping: by 26th September 2025
Wines sent via a private courier:: by 24th October 2025

Tranche 2

Wines sent via consolidated shipping: by 6th March 2026
Wines sent via a private courier:: by 27th March 2026

For international samples we strongly recommend that you use the IWC global shipping service by Hellman. Four bottles of each wine must be submitted for every entry to the IWC. Wines can be tasted on up to three separate occasions during the IWC judging process, and one bottle to allow for an out of condition sample.

Wine sent using private courier must be sent Duty Paid. Wines cannot be accepted if the charges associated with shipping have not been paid. Any penalty and additional cost incurred will be borne by the entrant.

If a wine is entered into the Discovery Tasting a further two bottles are required.

ALL WINE SAMPLES WILL BECOME THE PROPERTY OF THE IWC ONCE RECEIVED BY IWC

Information on shipping your wines can be found here

8. Discovery Tasting

To submit a wine into the Discovery Tasting the wine entered must not have any UK representation at the time of submission. Wines that are found to have an importer will be excluded from the Discovery Tasting and neither credits nor refunds will be issued if the wines are ineligible for tasting. Should a UK importer be assigned to the wine after the entry is made and notification is given in writing before the first date of judging (20th April 2026) for IWC 2026 then the Discovery Tasting may be cancelled and the supplementary fee will be refunded.

To enter a wine into the Discovery Tasting please answer 'yes' to question 2 of the entry form and specify your target market

On trade: bars, restaurants, hotels and clubs
Off trade: independent merchants, supermarkets and online retailers

9. Withdrawal of entries

To cancel an entry you must email the IWC here with the name of the wine to be withdrawn and the name of the company deleting the entry. Entry fees can only be refunded in full if the cancellation is made before the first date of IWC judging 2026 (20th April 2026)

CANCELLATIONS AFTER THIS DATE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. If the entrant has used the IWC consolidated shipping service prior to cancelling the entry, the shipping fee will not be refunded.

10. If the same wine is entered by different companies

When the same wine is being submitted by more than one company, all entrants' names will be featured equally in the report of the tasting. Fees for multiple entries will not be refunded.

11. Medal Images

Winners of IWC medals are licensed to replicate an appropriate 2025 medal image on their marketing material only until 31st December 2026.

Winners can download standard resolution medal artwork for free. Winners who wish to replicate an IWC medal image on a relevant bottle may purchase IWC Medal stickers or a licence to use high resolution artwork for such purpose by logging into their account here.