Global Wine & Spirits Awards

Judging Process

Strict procedures, following worldwide established guidelines,
our competition ensure quality and consistency of result

Present in Flights

Samples are organized into flights according to their styles, grape varieties (for wine), and regions of origin. The parameters for these categories are outlined in the score sheets. Tasting is conducted in a double-blind format, ensuring that judges do not see the bottles to allow for an unbiased assessment.

Individual Tasting

Samples are evaluated by judges on their own, according to a 100-point scale by judges. All judges must participate in a briefing and calibration session prior to the tasting event to understand the criteria to achieve Gold, Silver and Recognised.

Debate for Medals

Scores are gathered and documented by the panel chair. Average scores are computed, and preliminary medals are awarded. If there is any disagreement regarding the medal results, the panel chair facilitates a discussion among the judges, who can deliberate until a consensus on the medal awards is achieved.

Select the Best

The top gold winners are nominated for the final evaluation to determine the Best in their respective styles, grape varieties, and regions of origin. Gold winners with outstanding scores may automatically qualify for the trophy; however, this is also contingent upon comparison with other samples put forth by the panel chairs. The tasting to decide the trophy winner is conducted by the Chair of Judges and involves participation from all panel chairs

Categories

Fortified Wine
Madeira
Port
Sherry
Vermouth & Other Aromatised Wines
Worldwide Fortified Wine /Vin De Liqueur

Still Wine
Still Wine
Flavoured wine

Sparkling Wine
Champagne
Cava
Prosecco
Bottle Fermented Sparkling Wines 
Lightly Sparkling /Perlé
Tank Fermented Sparkling Wines

Rice Wine
Sake

Vermouth
Vermouth
Other Aromatised Wine		Spirit
Absinthe
Aquavit
Armagnac
Asian Spirits
Bitters
Calvados
Cocktail
Cognac
Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Fruit/Seed/Nut Spirits/Eau-de-Vie
Gin
Genever/Jenever
Grain Spirits
Grape Brandy
Liqueurs
Pisco
Rum
RTD/Cocktail
Shochu/Soju
Tequila/Agave Spirits
Mezcal
Vodka
Whiskey – Irish
Whiskey – USA
Whiskies – Worldwide
Whisky – Scotch
Miscellaneous Spirits

Beer
Pale Ale
IPA
Wheat
Pale Lager
Porter/Stout
Sour
Specialty

Mead
Mead
Sparkling Mead

Gold

An excellent drink with great personality. An example that stands out among its peers.

Silver

An accomplished product with considerable personality, character and complexity. A classic example of its style or variety.

Highlight

A perfectly well-made product which provides an enjoyable drinking experience.

The Best in the class

Best in Show

Selected from 1 or more top-scorers from the category

Unrivaled Expertise

Our team of skilled professionals possess unmatched expertise in their respective fields, ensuring that you receive the highest level of service.

Style

examples:
Spirits: Whisky, Grape Brandy, Rum, Gin
Wine: Sparkling Wine, Rosé, Dessert Wine
Beer: IPA, Wheat, Sour

Region

for wine products only, examples:
Best Wines from France

Grape Variety

for wine products only, examples:
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Best Cabernet Sauvignon / Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Green Award

The Green Award celebrates excellence in sustainable practices within the wine and spirits industry. This prestigious recognition is awarded to producers who demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship and meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability.

This award highlights the dedication of wineries and distilleries to creating exceptional products while championing environmentally responsible practices.

To qualify for the Green Award, producers must meet the following criteria:

Green Certification

Obtain certification from an official governing body that verifies sustainability, organic, or biodynamic practices.

Gold medal

Products that have achieved either a Gold medal or a Trophy in their respective categories in GWSAA

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