London Wine Competition to judge wines on their drinkability, value and design

A new global wine competition is being launched that sets out to reward wines in the same way that consumers do when picking them up to buy. For what they look like on shelf, what value for money they offer and then for their drinkability when you get it home.

The London Wine Competition will taste wines blind to assess their quality like the majority of international wine awards, but will then reveal the label and the price and ask judges to score the wines on all three criteria. 

The event is open to wines from all over the world and is being named after London to recognise its role as the hub of the global wine industry and the catalyst for so many world wine trends.  

To be a real success a wine brand has to be bought by consumers, be it on a supermarket shelf or a restaurant or bar's list. .

All winners in the London Wine Competition will have been judged in three key areas:

Drinkability. All wines will be initially tasted blind to assess their quality and how drinkable they are they for consumers in their target area. The London Wine Competition wants to highlight and reward wines that are enjoyable to drink, not just high point scorers where one glass in enough.

Value for money.  Wines will then be assessed to see how much value for money they are offering their target wine drinkers at that price point.

Packaging and design. As the majority of the wines brands are bought with our eyes, the London Wine Competition will recognise wines that stand out on the shelf, or on a back bar, and will assess how well suited that design or packaging is to their target consumer group.

The event is being organised by the Beverage Trade Network which also runs other wine competions in different countries including Australia. Sid Patel, creator and owner of the awwrds said: "With so many products now on the market, it is increasingly confusing and difficult for all wine drinkers, both enthusiasts and the occasional drinkers, to really know, with any great confidence, what they are buying."

He added: "The London Wines Competition has been created to put consumers back in charge. To give them the reassurance that any of the award winning wines with the LWC logo will have been based on how drinkable they are, how much value for money they offer, and what they actually look like."

Each of the London Wines Competition winners will receive either a Gold, Silver or Bronze award with scores out of a 100. Fifty based on the quality of the wine and 25 each for value for money and design and packaging. 

Patel added: “We all need help when buying wines. We want to highlight and reward those wines that have the winning combination of drinkability, value for money and that look great too.”

“Our judges will be making decisions every day about the commercial viability of the wines presented to them,” added Patel.

Judging for the London Wine Competition takes place in March 2018 with the winners announced shortly after. Entries for the competition will open for all domestic and international wines on November 1, 2017.

Here is the information on how you can enter your wines in the London Wine Competition.

1. Login or register online
2. Enter your wine details
3. Ship your samples by February 20, 2018

Key Dates:

Registration Opens: 1 November 2017
Warehouse Opens For Samples: 1 November 2017
Registration Ends: 20 February 2018
Warehouse Closes For Samples: 20 February 2018
Judging: March 8 & 9, 2018
Winners Announced: 30 March 2018

Fee Schedule:

£95 from 1 November 2017 to 31 January 2018
£125 from 1 February 2018 to 15 February 2018
£145 from 16 February 2018 to 20 February 2018