The London Wine Competition prides itself on thinking and acting like the consumers that are going to end up buying the wines that win the top awards in the event. It is why from the day it was founded it has constantly been looking to listen and adapt its adage giving producers, suppliers, and importers clear and compelling reasons to enter their wines.

To do that you need to have top-quality judges that not only know a quality wine when they taste one but can also recognize their value for money for the part of the market they want to compete in and whether they look and have the right decision and packaging to appeal to wine drinkers.

That’s why the London Wine Competition looks to only have judges, many of whom are Masters of Wine or Master Sommeliers, with direct buying responsibility or those who have had the vital experience of making the tough commercial decisions that decide what is listed or not.

For the 2023 awards the strong panel of judges consists of the following leading names amongst others:

Image: Head Sommelier at 67 Pall Mall

1)Joseph Arthur, Senior Wine Buyer at Marks & Spencer

2)Angelo Altobelli, Beverage Manager at Dinings SW3

3)Daniele Arcangeli Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe

4)Vincenzo Arnese Head Sommelier at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester

5)Dario Barbato DipWSET Head of Wine Department and Training at Individual Restaurants

6)Claire Blackler MW Owner of Claire Drinks and Master of Wine, Wine & Spirits Educator and Consultant

7)Beverley Blanning MW Master of Wine, Writer, Educator & Presenter

8)Alessandro Bonazzi Wine & Spirits Buyer at Whole Foods Market HSK

9)Filippo Carnevale Head Sommelier and Wine Buyer at Amethyst Dining, London

10)Salvatore Castano On Trade Advisor & Assistant Wine Buyer at Friarwood Fine Wine and Best Sommelier of Europe & Africa ASI 2021

11)Christopher Delalonde MS Head of Wines at Hakkasan Group

12)Sara Muirhead MW Master of Wine

13)Elena Serban Head Sommelier and Buyer at ZUMA Restaurants

14)Valeriya Toteva Assistant Head Sommelier at Hilton Hotels & Resorts

View the full list of judges.

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The judging process:

The London Wine Competition has three, highly effective and different judging criteria to set them apart from the majority of other international wine events. Wines are judged in three ways:

For their quality

for their value for money

and for what they look like.

These are the three most crucial factors that determine what wines end up in someone’s supermarket trolley or at their table when eating and drinking out. 

A separate weighted score will be given for each of the three parts of the judging process (Quality gets twice the weightage). The scores will be calculated with other judges for the same product on the team to give a final score from which individual prizes will be awarded. 

Brands looking to enter are encouraged to enter now and ship their wines before the deadline.

Behind the scenes at London Wine Competition

Key Dates:

Warehouse Opens: October 1, 2022

Warehouse Closes: March 2, 2023

Registration Ends: Feb 22, 2023

Judging Date: March: 20 & 21, 2023

Winners Announced: April 12, 2023

Fee Schedule:

£95 Early Bird - October 1 to Dec 9, 2022

£120 Regular - Dec 10 to Feb 22, 2023

Enter Now