John Hoskins MW: IWSC gold is like a Michelin star

Wine news

Wed 11 Dec 2024

The IWSC judges are the industry's most influential voices, shaping global markets and driving brand success. From Master Distillers to Senior Buyers, from Head Sommeliers to Bar Directors, these leaders guide the world's top drinks establishments. Through our new Insider series, discover why their judgement is so trusted and gain exclusive insights from the experts themselves.

In this Wine edition, member of the IWSC Wine Judging Committee, John Hoskins MW explores what it truly takes to earn one of the wine world's most coveted accolades.

The Value of Gold

"An IWSC Gold Medal is a very special accolade. Some competitions seem to have forgotten that gold is an extremely precious metal. The multiple stickers that adorn many bottles may well have downgraded the reputation of this once revered term. If it wasn't that gold is the international recognised symbol of excellence, we should perhaps give our top-performing wines a different description. Something that evokes the extraordinary achievement that an IWSC gold medal actually represents."

The Gold Standard

"To get an IWSC Gold really is tough; it's the Michelin Star, the Olympic final, the Oscar nomination. Judges are considering every wine both against its peers in its class, but also within the context of their deep experience of comparable styles on the international level. We are searching for those bottles that show not just typicity and character, but also harmony, persistence and complexity."

A Rigorous Process

"IWSC judges are not rushing through hundreds of wines a day. There is time to consider every entry with care; time for each panel to vigorously debate their various opinions until a consensus is achieved; time for a senior judge to re-taste every gold (and every high-scoring silver) and take it back to the table where appropriate. Of course we are looking to reward excellence when we find it, but we are never prepared to sacrifice the standards on which we have all agreed."

Commercial Excellence

"The great majority of judges are (or have been) in important buying roles within the trade. Their no-nonsense approach curries no favours. Every wine is considered for its commercial rectitude; whether it would justify its place on the shelf or list of the best shop or restaurant. Those bottles awarded an IWSC gold are guaranteed to be outstanding within their field."

John Hoskins MW, Wine Expert & member of the IWSC Wine Judging Committee, John made history as the first MW from the restaurant industry in 1994. Winner of the prestigious Bollinger Award for tasting, he founded the acclaimed Huntsbridge group before leading The Old Bridge in Huntingdon for nearly three decades. A pioneer in combining hospitality and wine expertise, he brings his exceptional palate and commercial insight to the IWSC judging panel.