Following the success of the first year of the China Wine Competition, the 3rd year is set to be even bigger and better, providing winning wines more awareness and recognition.

Over the years, wine competitions have proven to be one of the strongest forces that help wineries, and wine brands find their way into the wine market. Competitions are a great way to bring your wines in front of buyers and other industry experts, who will give you accurate feedback of where you stand in the market and your wines gaining awareness within buyers.

Recognizing the value of wine competitions, and the vast wine market in China, the China Wine Competition has placed itself in the wine spectrum to help wine brands gain the build they need during these times, where new brands are entering the market on an almost daily basis.

For any wine brand to earn its place on a retailer's rack or a restaurant's/bar’s wine list - and remain there - they should be attractive and customer-driven and not simply created in the general expectation it can find enough people willing to sell and buy it.

Most wine competitions judge based on quality through a blind tasting method. However, after speaking to industry experts, Beverage Trade Network noticed that when buying wines, it all boils down to three main things: Quality, Value, and Packaging.

Taking that into consideration, the China Wine Competition judges wines exactly based on Quality, Value, and Packaging.

China Wine Competition Judging Process

The China Wine Competition has created a 100-point rating system that takes into account three different criteria (Quality, Value, and Packaging) rather than just the distilling technique or overall taste. To be an award winner you will need to have a top-quality wine, that offers both the trade and the consumer great value for money, and you will need to look good and truly stand out on the shelf and the back bar.

The China Wine Competition will be decided based on the following judging formula:

Q (Quality Score) + Value Score (V) + Package Score (P) = China Wine Competition score

A separate weighted score will be given for each of the three parts of the judging process. The scores will be added up to give a final score from which individual prizes will be awarded.

Quality Score: will be marked out of 50

Value Score: will be marked out of 25

Package Score: will be marked out of 25

The judging panel at the China Wine Competition consists of top-level wine buyers who are directly involved with current commercial buying, wine consultants, and other industry experts who are also directly involved in the development of new wine brands and buying wine for commercial resale.

At the 2021 China Wine Competition, judges are drawn from leading retail chains, wholesalers, distributors, and on-trade groups across various channels and disciplines, including multiple retailing, convenience stores, cash and carries, specialist retailers, casual and casual fine dining, hospitality, and travel industry.

To receive a:
Gold: you need to score 90 or over.

Silver: you need to score between 80-89.

Bronze: you need to score between 70-79.

Along with Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals, China Wine Competition also offers seven different ‘Special Category’ awards which include:

Wine of the Year

Winery of the Year

Best in Show by Country

Best in Show by Varietal

Best Wine of The Year by Quality

Best Wine of The Year by Value

Best Wine of The Year by Package

Benefits of winning a China Wine Competition Medal

1. Commercial Relevance

Crucially, all the winners in the China Wine Competition will give future trade wine buyers, be they for a supermarket, specialist wine retailer, casual dining, or upmarket restaurant, the reassurance that these are wines that their customers want to buy.

2. Cross-Industry Recognition

The China Wine Competition also recognizes the huge talent and skills that now exist right through the wine supply chain. From the winemakers, growers, and producers that are making the wine; to the specialist importers and wholesalers that help bring them to market; along with the designers, packaging experts, and brand development teams that ensure there is a market and customer base to sell to.

3. Build Consumer Awareness

Winners in the China Wine Competition will receive either a Gold, Silver, or Bronze award and be supported by a strong consumer awareness campaign, particularly through social media channels and wine comparison apps, to promote this new global competition

2019 China Wine Competition Highlights

The first China Wine Competition took place in Shanghai in 2019. The first year was a success, with wines from over 25 countries, including entries from prominent wine-producing countries such as Australia, France, Italy, Spain, USA, and South Africa - to lesser-known wine regions such as Azerbaijan, Uruguay, Kazakhstan, Malta, Slovakia, and many more.

2020 China Wine Competition Highlights

More than 56 different grape varieties and wines from 15 countries were submitted in the 2nd annual competition - 2020 CWC. Wines from Spain & Australia seized the spotlight at the 2020 China Wine Competition. 2020's competition was the best as far as the quality of wines entered, according to the judges.

The China Wine Competition not only highlights well-known wines, but is focused on highlighting wines that are great in all aspects, and have a tough time getting into the market.

Key Dates:
Judging Date: Nov 21, 2021