Why take part?

What sets the IWC apart? 

Setting the Global Standard for Excellence

Entering the competition allows you to benchmark your wines against the best in the world, ensuring you remain at the forefront of the industry. The IWC judging process assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage, with no pricing or producer information provided. This process enables winemakers to benchmark the performance of their wines alongside others of a similar style and see where they sit on the global stage.

“We have worked tirelessly on vineyard improvements…so winning two IWC trophies is wonderful recognition for all the work that has been done by the vineyard and winemaking team.”

Martin Shaw Co-Founder of Tolpuddle Vineyard

Rigorous Assessment by Industry Experts

An IWC medal-winning wine is tasted by a minimum of 8 judges before being awarded. The rigorous process is respected by international wine retailers and buyers and opens the door for international trade communication.

83% of the IWC entrants believe that entering the IWC has positively impacted/will positively impact their winery's reputation and sales.*

Gathering the World's Wine Experts

The IWC brings together the wine world's most important and influential figures, with more than 500 experts from over 38 countries. The IWC judging teams include experts and influencers from the international wine industry, commercial decision makers, buyers and Masters of Wine (MWs) working in unison to find the highest quality wines each year from the 52 wine-producing countries represented in the competition.

Broad Exposure and Global Reach

The IWC is not just a competition; it's a platform for your brand to shine. 

In 2023, our portfolio of wine events achieved a global reach in excess of 2 billion people through online, newspaper, and magazine channels.(source: Cision)

New for 2024: In 2024, the IWC results will be shared on the renowned wine search engine wine-searcher.com, which represents 240 million searches by consumers each year.

“This award means a great amount for me and also the team. There's a whole village that it takes to make these wines. And it's awesome that someone from New Zealand has won this trophy.” 

Natalie Christensen, IWC White Winemaker of the Year 2023

Proven Impact: Tangible Benefits

Winning an IWC medal comes with tangible benefits. Our high-shine foil bottle stickers, provided to medal-winning producers, are proven to increase sales by 24% and influence customer purchasing decisions.


*Survey May 2023