Charity

Each year, the IWSC receives thousands of entries for its awards. Wines, spirits, ciders, vermouths, RTDs, low and no and lighter alcohol drinks are just some of the drinks tasted by our panels of expert judges throughout the year.  

When entering our awards we ask producers to provide up to four bottles of each drink they enter, as each entry can be re-tasted up to four separate times throughout the judging process - from the initial judging, to trophy judging and then beyond, to being displayed at our annual Awards Celebration or various trade events.

Any bottles leftover at the end of the award year are auctioned on our behalf by Bellman’s Fine Art Auctions and it is with these proceeds that the IWSC is able to support industry bodies including, but not limited to, the provision of educational grants to students studying torward their The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW), The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and L’Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) qualifications, and many more organisations listed below. It is also through these proceeds we support the industries upcoming talent through our annual Emerging Talent awards.

IWSC's Emerging Talent awards are an unparalleled opportunity for new and exciting voices within the industry to make their name and to build exposure and recognition for their work.

The winner of each of our six Emerging Talent awards will be granted a £2,500 travel bursary, to enable them to further their education and development within their chosen field.

The IWSC has had a long-term partnership with the WSET. Each year we award a scholarship to a student to further their wine education.

The recipient of the scholarship is award the IWSC Trophy at the WSET Graduation & Prize Reception.

The IWSC offer annual support for The Institute of Masters of Wine, including 2 scholarships to help candidates through their MW studies.

The IWSC and the IMW share similar ethos, their mission "to promote excellence across the global wine community". All of our Wine Judging Committee members hold MW titles and are trusted at the forefront of the judging process.

In partnership with the Old Vine Conference, the IWSC offers a grants to enable research to be carried out in specific countries. 

In 2023, the IWSC's grant was awarded to Heritage Vines of Turkey, for their research on 'The Precarious Existence of Anatolian Old Vines: Karasakız Example’ and in 2024, we supported an important project in Chile - Vigno, 10 Years On.

The IWSC also launched, in 2022, an Old Vine Trophy, awarding a producer whose old vine wines not only perform well in the IWSC judging, but also works to preserve and protect old vines and spread awareness of the importance of nurturing heritage vineyards.

As of 2025, IWSC is now sponsor of the Old Vine Hero Award for Communication & Education - nominate here!

The IWSC and Foursquare Rum Distillery offer an experienced drinks writer/communicator, with a keen interest in rum, the chance of a lifetime to learn more about the history of this iconic spirit, and there is no better way to do that than in its homeland, Barbados.

The IWSC reward a bursary, for the winning application to attend The Barbados Rum Experience.

The IWSC has offered long-term financial support to the UK Sommelier Academy, with many of the members holding positions as our judges as well as offering opportunities for the members to immerse themselves in the IWSC's community.

The IWSC has a long connection with the South African wine scene. For many years the IWSC has held it's South African Wine Judging in Stellenbosch, bringing international judges to the country.

The IWSC has also offered continual support to the SASA.

IWSC is proud to support The Drinks Trust as a business partner from 2025. More details on our partnership to be shared soon!

The Drinks Trust is committed to supporting drinks hospitality colleagues, past and present, in their time of need. We provide financial assistance, nurture their well-being and champion the growth of a skilled and engaged workforce.​ Upholding our values of respect, compassion and empowerment, we are building a healthier future for our people.