Nominations open for WSET & IWSC Future 50 Awards

The Future 50, a new initiative recognising the future stars of the wine and spirit industry, has been launched by the IWSC and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

The Future 50 will recognise 50 of the global industry’s up-and-coming talent from all areas of the trade. The awards have been created in celebration of the IWSC and WSET’s 50^thanniversaries, both of which are being celebrated this year.  

The WSET and IWSC are calling on professionals across the industry, from those working in product development, design and distribution to marketing, journalism and hospitality – and everything in between – to nominate themselves or their colleagues for the awards.

Entrants will be judged and winners selected by a panel of international judges, including The Wine Show’s Joe Fattorini, Master Blenders Richard Paterson and Stephanie Macleod of Whyte & MacKay and John Dewar & Sons respectively, Hakkasan group head of wine Christine Parkinson, Xavier Rousset MS, and the Chief Executives of both the WSET and IWSC, Ian Harris and Allen Gibbons.

This main panel will be supported by global regional advisors in 17 countries, including Debra Meiburg MW in Hong Kong, Ian Dai in China, James Tidwell MS in USA, and Pedro Ballesteros MW in Spain.

Nominees will be judged based on their achievements in, and contributions to, the drinks industry in the last three years, covering a range of areas such as career, academia, social responsibility and innovation. 

“The IWSC and WSET are both founded in 50 years of heritage and unparalleled industry expertise, but the Future 50 is as much about looking ahead as it is about looking backwards,” said IWSC CEO Allen Gibbons. 

“The Future 50 is our way of demonstrating support for those who will be driving forward the top quality standards that have been set across the industry – from brands, to products, to venues – and ensuring that the drinks world continues to innovate and advance.”

Nominations for the Future 50 awards are open now, until 14 March 2019. Nominees must be under 40 years of age, and can be working in any profession as long as they prove direct contribution to the industry. Find out more about the nominee criteria, or enter online now. The results will be announced in November 2019 ahead of the IWSC Awards Banquet.