IWSC Judging in Conegliano Valdobbiadene

Overseen by Master of Wine and IWSC Judging Committee member Sarah Abbott MW, this year’s judging brings together a panel of experts representing the forefront of buying, hospitality and wine media:

Sarah Abbott MW - IWSC Judging Committee Member
A Master of Wine with specialist expertise in Barolo, Burgundy and old-vine Bordeaux, Sarah has led Italian masterclasses at Vinitaly and is a respected advocate for Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG.

Melania Battiston - Wine Director at Cornus
A Piedmont native and winner of the Gérard Basset Tasting Trophy, Melania has built one of London’s most acclaimed Michelin-starred wine lists, bringing exceptional blind tasting expertise and an instinctive understanding of Italian wine.

Federico Moccia - Head of Wine at 67 Pall Mall
A leading Italian wine specialist, Federico oversees the wine programme at one of the world’s most influential fine wine clubs, shaping the Italian wine conversation for a global audience.

Helena Nicklin - Columnist & Broadcaster
An award-winning drinks writer and IWSC judge with over 25 years’ experience, Helena is a columnist for The Daily Mail and a familiar voice across national media and Amazon Prime.

Entering the IWSC Global Judging in Conegliano Valdobbiadene offers producers the opportunity to elevate their wines on the international stage, connect with key trade figures and strengthen their presence in important markets:

• Present your wines to leading international experts, including Masters of Wine, top sommeliers and influential critics
• Benefit from your wines judged within the context of their origin, alongside convenient local shipping
• Gain global recognition through IWSC promotion, Club Oenologique and leading trade and consumer media
• Increase visibility in the UK market via key trade events, tastings and editorial coverage
• Receive globally recognised medals, certificates and marketing toolkits, backed by the IWSC’s rigorous judging process

How does the IWSC promote Prosecco Superiore DOCG medal winners? Check our 2025 Impact Summary in English and Italian.

Introduced in 2025, the IWSC Conegliano Valdobbiadene Producer Trophy recognises outstanding producers in the region, celebrating excellence, consistency and craftsmanship across a portfolio of Prosecco Superiore DOCG wines.

In 2025, the trophy was awarded to Valdo, recognised for its exceptional quality and strong medal performance across the judging.

All producers entering the IWSC and judged during the Conegliano Valdobbiadene session are automatically considered for this prestigious award. Following the judging, the highest-performing producers are shortlisted based on their results.

The shortlist is then reviewed by members of the IWSC Judging Committee, who select the overall winner.

The winning producer will be announced shortly after the judging, with formal recognition at the IWSC Awards Celebration later in the year.

Entry deadline: 30 April 2026
Judging: 25–28 May 2026
Results announcement: 4 June 2026

Entry fee: £135 per wine (online entry)

To benefit from the discounted entry price, please select “Wine Judging in Conegliano Valdobbiadene” as your judging location when submitting your wines.

Delivery information:

Please send 2 bottles* of each entry.
Please deliver your samples between 30 April – 15 May 2026 to:

Consorzio di Tutela del Vino Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco
Piazza Libertà, 7
31053 Pieve di Soligo (TV)

Please clearly mark your shipment: IWSC

*Please note, if your wine is awarded a Gold medal, we will require 4 x additional bottles to be sent to the UK for our Trophy judging and Awards Celebration.

If you have any questions, or require further assistance please contact us.