Application for IWSC Judge

If you're interested in becoming a judge at the IWSC, please complete the registration, and we will be in touch when a space becomes available. Below are some key points to consider about our judging process and etiquette:

Judging Sessions and Structure

At the IWSC, we hold our judging sessions over a longer period compared to our competitors, which means we need fewer judges each day. We have a core team of judges who attend most of our sessions, ensuring consistency in our results. This core team works alongside a panel of three or four judges, all of whom work equally—there is no hierarchy within our panel. A member of the judging committee will oversee the judging sessions; you can find the list of the IWSC Wine and Spirits Judging Committee on our website.

 
Compensation and Sample Limits

We believe it is important to compensate our judges fairly for their time, so all our judges are paid for their participation. We also limit each session to 65 samples to help avoid palate fatigue, encourage responsible drinking, and ensure judges can finish their work without running too late into the day, allowing them to return to their day jobs.

 
Feedback for Entrants

At the IWSC, we provide feedback to all entrants, ensuring that wines that do not receive a medal still receive constructive feedback. This feedback is given confidentially, which is especially important for non-medal-winning wines.

 
Transparency and Judge Names

We believe in transparency, and the names of the judges who tasted the award-winning drinks will be published on our results page.

 
Target Audience and New Judges

Our target audience consists primarily of buyers, who make up 90% of our judges, making the IWSC unique. The remaining 10% of judges come from other areas of the industry. We also aim to bring in a percentage of new judges each year. If someone has never judged with us before, we invite them to participate in one or two sessions to ensure they are a good fit and enjoy our processes.

 
Collaboration and Team Spirit

While being a great taster is essential, it’s not enough on its own. At the IWSC, teamwork is just as important as tasting ability. Every judge has an equal voice, and the best results come from open-minded collaboration. No matter how skilled a taster is, if they lack team spirit and the ability to work cohesively with others, the judging process simply won’t work. We strive to foster a convivial and cooperative environment—where egos are left at the door.