Grand Vin Wine Merchants UK | Blog

The International Wine Challenge is the world's largest wine competition. Over 9000 wines from across the world are entered. Four potential rewards are up for grabs: commended, bronze, silver and gold. Gold medals are particularly coveted: vaunted by marketing departments, they can significantly improve sales from the retail outlets via which the majority of these wines are distributed. Judging at the IWC is grueling, rewarding and fun. It is a ruthless test of your tasting skill, and consistency. It is also an unparalleled opportunity to taste across the world of wine, and there is a waiting list to join the ranks of even the most junior judges. Multiple panels of five judges taste flights of around 7 wines from endlessly varied origins. From Argentinean Mable, to Kiwi Sauvignon, to white Burgundy and red Bordeaux, we taste, note, score and  - inevitably - argue. I used to think it would be great to be a Panel Chair - to be in the position of final arbit...