IWSC returns to Turkey for a third Global Judging Session
The IWSC is returning to Turkey this June for our third Global Judging event in partnership with the Tuğrul Şavkay Turkish Wines Competition.
We are excited to once again have the opportunity to showcase Turkey’s rich winemaking heritage and highlight its emerging role on the global wine stage. The country has one of the world’s oldest winemaking traditions, with viticulture in Anatolia dating back thousands of years. In recent years, Turkey’s wine industry has been gaining international recognition, with indigenous grape varieties and diverse terroirs producing unique and high-quality wines.
Our judging panels will be overseen by Master of Wine Sarah Abbott, who has extensive experience in international wine consultancy and education. She will be joined by an expert panel of IWSC judges, including Sunny Hodge, founder of London’s award-winning wine bar, Diogenes the Dog; Georgios Iordanidis, Head of Wine at Annabel’s and David Kermode, a wine journalist, broadcaster, and judge.
Master Sommelier Isa Bal, founder and director of Trivet restaurant in London and Master of Wine Demetri Walters, a highly experienced wine educator and presenter also join the group. The panels are completed with Cat Lomax, a drinks and drinks retail consultant and former buyer, with a deep knowledge of global wine markets. Their combined expertise will ensure a rigorous and insightful evaluation of Turkish wines, further cementing the country’s growing reputation in the world of fine wine.
Global Judging is a key part of the IWSC. It benefits entrants and judges alike by fostering understanding, connections, and community. Entrants benefit from a focused judging session, which helps to shine a light on their region and provides access to the senior international figures that make up our judging panels. The judges take part in an immersive experience that helps to create ambassadors for the region in question. For our judges, assessing wines in context enhances their education and ensures they stay fully abreast of global trends, supporting their skills as wine and spirit judges.
Entrants will benefit from:
We are excited to once again have the opportunity to showcase Turkey’s rich winemaking heritage and highlight its emerging role on the global wine stage. The country has one of the world’s oldest winemaking traditions, with viticulture in Anatolia dating back thousands of years. In recent years, Turkey’s wine industry has been gaining international recognition, with indigenous grape varieties and diverse terroirs producing unique and high-quality wines.
Our judging panels will be overseen by Master of Wine Sarah Abbott, who has extensive experience in international wine consultancy and education. She will be joined by an expert panel of IWSC judges, including Sunny Hodge, founder of London’s award-winning wine bar, Diogenes the Dog; Georgios Iordanidis, Head of Wine at Annabel’s and David Kermode, a wine journalist, broadcaster, and judge.
Master Sommelier Isa Bal, founder and director of Trivet restaurant in London and Master of Wine Demetri Walters, a highly experienced wine educator and presenter also join the group. The panels are completed with Cat Lomax, a drinks and drinks retail consultant and former buyer, with a deep knowledge of global wine markets. Their combined expertise will ensure a rigorous and insightful evaluation of Turkish wines, further cementing the country’s growing reputation in the world of fine wine.
Global Judging is a key part of the IWSC. It benefits entrants and judges alike by fostering understanding, connections, and community. Entrants benefit from a focused judging session, which helps to shine a light on their region and provides access to the senior international figures that make up our judging panels. The judges take part in an immersive experience that helps to create ambassadors for the region in question. For our judges, assessing wines in context enhances their education and ensures they stay fully abreast of global trends, supporting their skills as wine and spirit judges.
Entrants will benefit from:
- A discounted entry fee (when entering your wine(s), please select ‘Wine Judging in Turkey’ as your judging location).
- Convenient local delivery to Istanbul.
- Exposure of award-winning wines to the IWSC’s global audience.
- Inclusion in the IWSC’s 2025 communication campaigns across our marketing and PR channels.
- • Access to a panel of internationally renowned wine judges.
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