Case Study
Austrian family winery secures prestigious Corney & Barrow listing following IWSC Global Judging
Weingut Frank’s direct connection with IWSC judge Rebecca Palmer of the UK’s oldest independent wine merchant showcases the transformative power of in-situ judging.
When Harald Frank tends his vines in the small Austrian village of Herrnbaumgarten, he is continuing a family tradition that stretches back to 1724. With just 900 inhabitants, this quiet corner near the Czech border rarely draws international attention. Yet thanks to a dinner conversation during IWSC’s Global Judging programme in Austria, Weingut Frank’s Grüner Veltliner has now found its way onto the shelves of Corney & Barrow, one of Britain’s most prestigious fine wine merchants.
Getting noticed
The Frank family has weathered centuries of change, continuously rebuilding and modernising their estate while maintaining a focus on regionally typical Grüner Veltliner. Under Harald and Katrin Frank’s stewardship, the emphasis has shifted towards finesse and elegance, crafting cool-climate wines that are certified sustainable, vegan-friendly, and produced without insecticides or herbicides.
Connections that create change
When IWSC brought its Global Judging programme to Austria, it created a unique opportunity for producers to showcase their wines in context, surrounded by the landscapes and traditions that shape them. For Harald, this meant more than submitting bottles for evaluation.
“The visit of the judging team in Austria was very helpful. Here we had personal contact, and we got very good feedback from several judges,” he shares.
Among the judges was Rebecca Palmer, Associate Director & Head of Buying at Corney & Barrow and an IWSC Wine Judge with nearly three decades of industry experience. During an evening tasting organised alongside the formal judging, she met Harald and tasted his wines in the context of their Austrian terroir.
The gold dust: Why in-situ judging works
Rebecca had already noted Weingut Frank’s Silver medal - recognition that indicated serious quality. But it was the face-to-face encounter that sealed the partnership.
Despite other producers at the tasting who might have been “more savvy at marketing themselves”, Rebecca knew immediately she had discovered something exceptional in Harald’s Grüner Veltliner.
The IWSC: A platform, a chance
Following the judging, Rebecca reached out to Harald. Their connection developed further through meetings at Wine Paris and eventually at Corney & Barrow’s London headquarters. The result is that Weingut Frank’s wines now sit alongside the world’s finest in a portfolio that spans London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.
“Without the IWSC tasting, we would never have come into contact with Corney & Barrow - and without that, we would never have achieved a listing,” reflects Harald. For Rebecca, the partnership validated IWSC’s approach:
“We see so very clearly the value added of IWSC, and how the competition can literally change lives. Here they are, this small producer in the middle of nowhere, working away, doing their best; they’re not well-known, they don’t have a ‘name’ - IWSC offers them a platform, gives them a chance.”
Rebecca Palmer at The Bunch Press Tasting in London, 2025.
A Model for Global Success
The Weingut Frank story illustrates why IWSC’s Global Judging programme has become a blueprint for connecting quality producers with international markets. By bringing decision-makers directly to wine regions, the competition creates authentic encounters that can reshape entire business trajectories.
To learn more about IWSC's Global Judging programme and how it can benefit your wine region, contact marketing@iwsc.net