The IWC China, which claims to be the only international competition and accreditation awards of its kind to be held in mainland China, is designed to help consumers find the best wines available in China. The competition will employ the same judging criteria as the London-based IWC.
Each wine entered will be tasted up to 12 times by some of the most qualified palates in the world, according to the organisers, to ensure that the result is universally agreed, with a judging process spanning multiple days.
While the judging process will mirror that of the original IWC, the IWC China differs from its established competition in that:
- The competition is only open to all wineries in China, producers exporting to China, and those looking for distribution in China;
- The PR campaign following the results will focus solely on the Chinese market;
- The majority of judges will be from China or based in Asia;
- The judges will be assessing wines from the perspective of a local palate, as well as ensuring an internationally recognised standard of quality.
On the judging panel, the IWC China will bring together some of the most trusted international IWC judges, including Sarah Abbott MW, Charles Metcalfe, Peter McCombie MW, Jennifer Docherty MW, Richard Bampfield MW and Brendan Heath.
The Co-chairs for the event will be:
- Yang Lu MS: he has a degree in winemaking and is China’s only master sommelier. He is currently the corporate/group director of wine for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.
- Iain Riggs AM: a veteran of 47 vintages, including 36 with Brokenwood Wines, of which he is managing director, chief winemaker and part owner.
- Kenichi “Ken” Ohashi MW: a leading Japanese wine and sake distributor in Tokyo who is author of Natural Wine. He is the online wine columnist of Japan's top wine publication Wine Report. Ohashi is chairman of IWC sake.
- Oz Clarke: a global wine expert, he will provide a link between the co-chairs and panel chairs to assist the judges with their deliberations.
IWC event director Chris Ashton, said: ‘This is a really exciting venture for the IWC. We are replicating what we do in London in Shanghai. It’s the same thorough process and integrity, but the results and subsequent PR message will be delivered internally to the 60+ million regular wine buyers in China. Our website, results, search engines, certificates and medals are all in Chinese, making recognition easy for award-winning wines.
‘We have found many talented Chinese wine experts to help us with the judging process and hope they will develop with our judging process in the years to follow.’
IWC China judging will take place from June 3-8 at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao International Exhibition & Trading Center of Wine & Beverage Co, and The Shanghai Pudong International Exhibition Corp.
The inaugural IWC China Awards dinner will take place on September 6. The IWC China Trade tasting of award-winning wines will be on the September 7. The venue will be confirmed closer to the time.
To enter your wines please register on: www.internationalwinechallengechina
Deadline for entries: May 1
Delivery deadline:
- International shipment via consolidated agent: April 15
- International shipment via consolidated agent from Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa: May 1
- International shipment via private courier: May 2
