The Scoring System

“Double-blind” judging process

Strict procedures, following the London-based IWSC established guidelines, to ensure quality and consistency of result

Samples are arranged and tasted by category and presented to judges in flights of tasting glasses - the bottles are never seen by judges. The judges are provided with a score sheet and the basic parameters of the class (with reference to the categories entered) under assessment. Samples are tasted and scored with 100-point system individually by judges, with scores collected and recorded by the panel chair who may open scores for final discussions within the panel.

Judges are prohibited from entering the preparation area before or during judging sessions. All results remain confidential until officially released.

	Trophy The Top Scorers are re-tasted to determine 'Best in class' Quality of the highest order/
	Gold Score of 90+ An excellent wine / spirit with great personality. An example that stands out among its peers.
	Silver Score of 80+ An accomplished wine/spirit with considerable personality, character and complexity. A classic example of its style or variety.
	Bronze Score of 75+ A perfectly well-made wine/spirit which provides an enjoyable drinking experience.
	Green All Trophy and Gold winner certified sustainable / biodynamic / organic by official certification governing body.

Categories

Fortified Liqueur Wine

Madeira
Port
Sherry
Vermouth & Other Aromatised Wines (red, white, rose)
Worldwide Fortified Wine /Vin De Liqueur

Vintage/NonVintage Wines

Dry
Medium
Sweet
Botrytis
Eiswein/Icewine

Low/No Alcohol
Organic/Biodynamic

Bag-in-Box
Confectionary Flavoured
Fruit Flavoured
Other Flavoured

Sparkling Wine

Champagne (white, rosé)
Cava
Prosecco
Bottle Fermented Sparkling Wines (red, white, rosé)
Lightly Sparkling /Perlé
Tank Fermented Sparkling Wines (red, white, rosé)

Spirit

Absinthe
Aquavit
Armagnac
Asian Spirits
Bitters
Calvados
Cocktail
Cognac
Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Fruit Spirits (Distilled)
Gin
Grain Spirits
Grape Brandy
Liqueurs
Pisco
Rum
Shochu/Soju
Tequila/Mezcal
Vodka
Whiskey - Irish
Whiskey - USA
Whiskies - Worldwide
Whisky - Scotch
Miscellaneous Spirits

Beer

Pale Ale
IPA
Wheat
Pale Lager
Porter/Stout
Sour
Specialty

All Categories

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“Winning a silver medal in the HKIWSC has truly helped my product to achieve international credibility regarding its taste. This has positively affected decision making of several new merchants who now carry my product.”Kaustav BagchiOwner, Lamai Thai Spirits
“Louis Royer Cognac has been entering the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition for many years. This competition is regarded as the most respected in Asian countries. Winning an award is a high honour for our brand and a further seal of quality for our multi-award winning Cognac.”Carol FrugierMarketing and Communications Manager, Louis Royer Cognac
“Adding to our success over the past few years at the HKIWSC, winning a trophy means so much to us as we have just recently entered the Chinese market with our brandies. The Chinese market is unique, which makes it even more exciting to know that Oude Molen VOV Brandy is well accepted.”Kobus GelderblomBrandy Master, Oude Molen Distillery
“It is a great honour for us to receive this award and we are very thankful about the reputation from wine enthusiasts in China. This award is a testament to the fact that our white wines not only match the traditional Austrian food but also matches perfectly with the Asian cuisine.”Katja PflogschWinemaker, Domäne Wachau
“Having won three trophies in the last four years in different food & wine matching categories at HKIWSC has showcased Pegeric Pinot Noir and its suitability with Asian cuisines leading to its listing with one of Australia’s top restaurant – Melbourne’s iconic Flower Drum.”Chris CormackCEO, Pegeric Wines
“To get recognition from such a prestigious panel is vey rewarding indeed, and proves that our wines are made in a style that is truly food friendly. The HKIWSC has become one of the year’s most well-respected wine competitions globally. For us, the food match component is a fantastic chance to demonstrate how well our wines compliment so many different flavours. Moreover, it is a competition known and valued by our customers so a trophy can be hugely influential.””Susanna MayerWinemaker, Yealings
“Awards and medals at the HKIWSC have been like a stamp of approval to the quality of our wines. Because it is an Asian-focused competition, I know that my wines are being judged and measured by the same yardstick as all the other wines, given our viticultural conditions are quite unique compared with the rest of the world. These medals give me and, more importantly, my consumers the confidence that my wines stand apart from the competition.”Kalash GurnaniWinemaker, York Winery
“We are very proud of our results. One of our key focuses is the Asian market, so we really want to make our wines special and desirable for this market. That’s why we want to enter this competition and be evaluated by the expert judging panel.”Sofia Cajewski Winemaker, Cremaschi Furlotti
“We at Yealands Estate Wines are proud to be recognized by the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. The organization is held in the highest regard and our success in the competitions has become a strong voice for our quality around the globe.”Avram DeitchGlobal Marketing Manager, Yealands Wine Group
“Winning awards in reputable international wine shows such as the Cathay Pacific HKIWSC is one of the many ways of educating our consumers and giving them confidence in purchasing the Saint Clair brand. This enhances brand perception an in turn increases sales across our entire portfolio of wines.”Maria EastonWinemaker, Saint Clair Family Estate