Page 5 - IWSC Tasting Guide 2017

Welcome
Richard Stoppard
IWSC Group CEO partner businesses
Welcome to our celebra on of the Interna onal Wine and Spirit Compe on 2017 winners, a fantas cally diverse group of wines and spirits from more than 90 countries – the biggest reach of any compe on.
This was another excellent year for IWSC entries. We have again grown and adapted our award line-up significantly, with, among others, a new English Sparkling Wine Trophy, a Chinese Wine Producer of the Year award and an Organic Wine Trophy.
There was an especially strong showing from spirits, including an outstanding performance from baijiu with eight gold medal winners. Its standing was so impressive we decided to introduce a dedicated trophy. We also saw a marked increase in Japanese shochu and Korean soju. And we shouldn’t forget the unstoppable rise of cra gin. We saw an increase of 126%, and that’s s ll a ny propor on of the astonishing number of gins being made.
There’s been con nued growth in whisky entries – the category has diversified and expanded, with a range of no-age statement whiskies domina ng the sector. Turning the focus to the art of the blend, rather than the pres ge ed up in age, the Single Malt Scotch No Age Statement Trophy was this year awarded to Richard Paterson’s The Dalmore Valour Single Highland Malt.
The spirits awards were celebrated in July with our annual tas ng at Vintners’ Hall in London, hosted by the Worshipful Company of Dis llers. As usual, the ancient hall was packed with spirits professionals keen to taste the line-up of 200 spirits, from baijiu to the finest and rarest malts. Then in October we judged the wine label design award – now in its second year – in the suitably sumptuous surroundings of Asprey in New Bond St.
Wine entries were strong, with 14 new countries added, from Macedonia to Azerbaijan. While Chinese wine con nues its global spread, we’ve had powerful showings across the board, especially in Australia and New Zealand.
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THE VERY BEST
As part of our mission to search out and highlight the very best in wines
and spirits worldwide, we’ve had a presence at the world’s major wine fairs, including ProWein in Düsseldorf, Vinitaly, Vinexpo and the London Wine Fair. Together with our partners the Kedge Business School, we a ended Vinisud, and – to reflect the importance of organic and biodynamic wines – the Millésime Bio 2017 in Marseille. This year, in parallel with our Annual Awards Banquet, we will also be at ProWine China in Shanghai, with an exclusive spirits showcase.
I would like to extend our hear elt thanks to Chris Blandy, our outgoing president and an indefa gable champion of the IWSC, whose me with us inspired him to find new ways of promo ng Madeira.
Finally, a warm welcome to our new president, Facundo Bacardí, the great-great-grandson of the founder of Bacardí, who promises to bring the “founder’s mentality” of the legendary house to bear on the IWSC.
For Facundo, “culture, authen city and heritage” are what connects a brand to its audience. As the IWSC approaches its 50th anniversary in be er health than ever, those three a ributes will be at the forefront of our celebra ons. ●
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17.00 – Winners’ Tasting Opens
18.45 – Trophy Presentations
19.30 – Banquet and further Trophy Presentations 23.00 – Carriages
After party till late from 23:00
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