Stories

Latest updates

Find out what IWSC is up to and learn about top-rated producers via our news feed

Each week we publish stories about the best wines and spirits, our experts, upcoming events, and beverage industry news. And, don't miss our new IWSC Insights series, where we take an in-depth look into drinks businesses and markets around the world. Looking for recommendations? Visit our consumer website Club Oenologique to read our top 10s and reviews.

IWSC news

IWSC partners with WinesDirect

The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) has signed a partnership deal with wine comparison website WinesDirect to promote medal-winning wines to consumers.   WinesDirect’s IWSC page will include Trophy, Gold, Silver, and Best in Class wines sold in the UK, along with tasting notes, stockists and prices.    Medal-winning wines can be searched for by colour, price, country, region, grape variety or retailer. “This

Read article

IWSC news

Independent Retailer of the Year 2010 - Woodwinters

Independent Retailer of the Year 2010   Woodwinters wine merchant in Scotland was nominated nationwide by consumers to pick up this prestigious award. Set up by husband and wife team, Cara winters and Douglas Wood, they have two stores in Edinburgh and Bridge of Allon but serve a UK-wide and international community (mainly France and Spain) via their wine delivery system. The key to their

Read article

IWSC news

IWSC Interview - Allen Gibbons MD

Each month we put the spotlight on a member of the IWSC team.   This month it’s our very own  Managing Director, Allen Gibbons .   How long have you been the MD? I became MD of the group two years ago, although I’ve been a Director of the IWSC for four years.   What is it like running the Competition? Running the Competition, any

Read article

IWSC news

New Trophy Sponsor for IWSC Italian Wine Producer

The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) are pleased to announce a new sponsor. The Istituto Regionale della Vite e del Vino are now sponsors of the IWSC Italian Wine Producer of the Year until 2013.   After the three big Italian wine producing regions of Veneto, Piemonte and Tuscany, Michele Shah (IWSC Italian Agent) comments that “the new star to seriously follow is Sicily”.

Read article

IWSC news

New global players use London as launch pad

New players in the global wine market will descend on ExCeL for the London International Wine Fair in May. Russia will exhibit for the first time, with a generic pavilion hosting eight wineries from the country’s largest wine producing region of Krasnodar.   In addition, Abrau Durso – Russia’s leading sparkling winery – will return after a successful 2010 launch, on a separate stand. In

Read article

IWSC news

Visit of Corkwise Laboratory – March 10th 2011 (Sabrina Belkadi)

As part of the Waitrose / IWSC sponsored WSET Diploma scholarship, I was given the unique opportunity to visit the Corkwise Laboratory which specialises in the technical analysis of wines. The process of technical analysis not only meets a legal requirement for all wines and spirits being commercialised, but it also helps producers during the winemaking process as well as importers and distributors at every

Read article

IWSC news

SA wines to be judged locally

According to Frances Horder, the IWSC competition director this decision has been coming a long time. “Allowing the first part of the judging process to be held in South Africa expands the market for us but also reduces the financial costs for SA wine producers to ship wines to the UK.”    Previously all SA wines have been judged at the homebase near Guildford in

Read article

IWSC news

IWSC Goes Local

Frances Horder, competitions director of the International Wine & Spirits Competition, is currently braving 40°C-plus temperatures in Paarl, South Africa, organising logistics. That’s because – for the first time ever – the IWSC will be judging South African wines in South Africa.   “Three years ago we were looking to expand the competition and decided to judge American wines in America – a sort of

Read article

IWSC news

Free shipping for ProWein 2011 IWSC entrants

The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) is offering  FREE  shipping of entries back to the competition cellars in the UK to companies exhibiting at ProWein, who enter the 2011 Competition.   The offer is open to Northern Hemisphere Wines (Canada, Germany, Austria and Italy only).   Four bottles (of wine or spirit) per entry can be dropped off at the Schenker Stand ( Hall

Read article

IWSC news

IWSC Announce new Chairman of Technical and Judging Committee

The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), the world’s most prestigious wine and spirit competition, is pleased to announce the appointment of Philip Goodband MW as the new Chairman of the Technical and Judging Committee.   Philip said of his role “I am delighted to have this opportunity to work with an exceptional team to enhance the already high reputation of the IWSC”.   Philip

Read article