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Each week we publish stories about the best wines and spirits, our experts, upcoming events, and beverage industry news. And, don't miss our new IWSC Insights series, where we take an in-depth look into drinks businesses and markets around the world. Looking for recommendations? Visit our consumer website Club Oenologique to read our top 10s and reviews.
Spirit news
2022 Spirits Awards - deliberations from our judges
Halfway through our first week of spirits judging, we caught up with Spirits Judging Committee members Dawn Davies MW and Olivier Ward to hear about what they were tasting and any trends they were seeing in the worldwide whiskey and gin categories.
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IWSC news
Emerging Talent: Bartender 2022 shortlist
Last week the IWSC gathered several on-trade experts to judge its Emerging Talent: Bartender Award. Recognising the very finest talent in the bartender community, the judges were asked to lookout for individuals they felt were leading the way in creativity and trendsetting in the bar world.
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IWSC news
Emerging Talent in Hospitality 2022 shortlist
The IWSC Emerging Talent in Hospitality aims to recognise the dedication and innovation of an individual in the hospitality industry towards helping it maintain fantastic customer service, looking after the employees within and finding new ways and means to draw people to once again going out! Last week our judging panel gathered to discuss entries and agree a shortlist.
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Wine news
In partnership with The Old Vine Conference, we are delighted to create the Old Vine Trophy
Together, the IWSC and The Old Vine Conference are launching a new 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.
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Wine news
Green Wine Future: the most ambitious environmental conference ever organised for the wine community
Sixteen years after Pancho Campo first rallied the wine world to combat the causes and effects of global warming, Green Wine Future promises to be the most ambitious event to date.
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Wine news
Bubbles in numbers
New for 2022 the IWSC has announced it will be judging still sparkling wine and champagne as a separate category. We are delighted that Essi Avellan MW will be heading our judging panel. Last year, the IWSC received over 900 sparkling wines entries for its 2021 awards. Of these wines, 34 received gold medals and 7 wines were awarded a trophy. Two trophy winners were
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IWSC news
“Go for it! There's no harm in applying and the benefits that come from it are great.”
As we approach the deadline for entries for the 2022 Emerging Talent awards, the IWSC caught up with one of last years’ Emerging Talent in Spirits winners – Rachel Sutherland.
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IWSC news
“My advice, continuously take every opportunity you have available to you in the industry”
Following the opening for entries of the 2022 Emerging Talent awards, the IWSC caught up with one of last years’ Emerging Talent in Spirits winners – Alice Pearson.
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Wine news
Raising a glass to our Trophy winners from Down Under
Following the annual Burgundy campaign which kicks of the new year, it is the Australia Trade Tasting that marks the next major landmark in the UK’s industry calendar. Australia produces approximately 4% of the world's wine output and is the world's fifth largest wine exporter. Last year at our 2021 judging, a total of seven Australian wines were awarded trophies, equating to 22% of wines
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Spirit news
Whisky Trophy Winners to celebrate Burns Night
Synonymous with the world’s greatest poets, Robert Burns is Scotland's national bard. Every year, on 25th January, the nation pays tribute to Rabbie, hosting Burns Night suppers to commemorate his birthday. Here, whisky expert Billy Abbott has matched our Scotch Trophy winners wtih traditional fare from a Burns Night menu...
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