IWC Americas and IWC Asia Pacific Open for Entries

The first regional heats of the International Wine Challenge (IWC) are now open for entries.

The IWC has been restructured into four regional heats spanning the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United Kingdom.

Under the new format, IWC Americas will bring together wines from Canada, North America, Central America and South America to be evaluated together in one place. Judging will take place from 2–6 November 2026, with a panel of 50 wine buyers, sommeliers, Masters of Wine and leading critics from Canada, the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and the UK.

Meanwhile, IWC Asia Pacific is open to wines from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan and China. Its judging panel will similarly draw on leading wine professionals from across these markets, alongside key UK buyers. Judging will take place from 30 November to 4 December 2026.



Leading judges and rigorous judging

Every wine is tasted blind, without the judges knowing its price or producer, ensuring a fair and objective assessment.

The judging panels bring together leading wine buyers, sommeliers, journalists and other industry experts. This gives entering wines direct visibility among the professionals who select, purchase and recommend wines across some of the world's most influential markets.

Gold medal-winning wines from both regional heats will then progress to London for the IWC Trophy judging stage, where they will have the opportunity to compete alongside the best-performing wines from Europe and the UK for the IWC's top accolades.

Why participate - and why winning matters

- Access to buyers, not just a medal. The judges are active buyers and industry professionals - the people making purchasing and listing decisions across domestic and export markets.

- Proven business impact. IWC medals are widely recognised as a trusted mark of quality, helping award-winning wines stand out with both the trade and consumers.

- Credibility and prestige. The IWC's blind-tasting standards and rigorous evaluation process are internationally respected, giving its medals real weight in the marketplace.

- Global recognition. A Gold medal provides a route to the Trophy judging in London and the opportunity to compete for the IWC's top accolades in 2027.

- Regional recognition. As the first editions of IWC Americas and IWC Asia Pacific, these competitions offer wines from the participating regions a unique opportunity to help define and showcase the quality emerging from their countries - both in their home markets and on the world stage.

How to participate

Registration for IWC Americas and IWC Asia Pacific is now open.

Wineries should submit their wines as soon as possible. Consolidated shipping is available from selected countries, with a 10 September 2026 deadline for wines using this service.

Alternatively, samples can be shipped directly to the IWC warehouse in Argentina. The deadline for samples arriving via direct shipment is 16 October 2026.

For full details and to enter, please visit this  link.