This Year’s Wine Competition Once Again Sets Unparalleled Standards and Uncovers the World’s Best Wines
May 21st, 2012, New York, NY- In its second year, the New York International Wine Competition (NYIWC) welcomed over 800 submissions from the United States and countries from all over the world.
The NYIWC is the only major international wine competition to be judged solely by trade buyers. Each wine is judged by its category and retail price. All participating judges have purchasing power through their stores, restaurants, distribution networks, which results in their ability to have a direct impact on brand sales.
Once again held at the 3 West Club in midtown Manhattan earlier this month, this year’s impressive judging panel included buyers from top retail stores, sommeliers, distributors, and importers. All donated their time and palates without hesitation or compensation. The judges were excited by the high quality of known wines submitted as well as the large number of new wines looking to break into the New York market and the United States as well.
What sets this competition apart from others is that the judges know the actual retail price of the wine they are judging and will the judge the wine as if they are buying it for their company. The wines are presented to the judges in their category as well as their price range. For example, the judges will be told that the wine they tasted is a “Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 or later” and whether it retails for $26 or $39.
All wines are judged in a blind tasting method and are sampled for appearance, aroma, taste, mouth feel, and finish. Each judging panel confers together to come to a unanimous decision. The judges make their decisions knowing that their peers (other trade buyers in New York and throughout the world) will also be making real buying decisions based upon the medals awarded at this particular competition.
Adam Levy, the founder of the NYIWC states, “This wine competition is designed for both the consumer and the trade buyer for they both buy on quality and price. For instance, a consumer will walk into a liquor store or ask at a restaurant for the best “Merlot” at a certain price. The trade buyer also looks at their selection and will buy wines based upon the best value by category and price. Why should we not judge wine that way?”
Wines landing on these shelves are carrying awards designated as either: Double Gold, Gold, Silver, or Bronze though not every bottle entered received a medal, as is common practice with many other competitions. A Bronze medal indicates it is something a judge would buy; Silver medals designate the spirit that judges really liked; Gold medals are affixed to brands that the judging panel believed was worth promoting to their customers. Double Gold is an amazing wine for its category and price.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
International Winery Of The Year
La Spinosa
Rhone Valley Winery of the Year
Cave De Tain
US Importer of The Year
WJ Deutsch & Sons
California Winery of The Year
Knight Valley Region Winery of the Year
Ehret Family Winery
Lake County Winery of The Year
Diamond Ridge Vineyards
Lodi County Winery of The Year
Peirano Estate Vineyards Winery
Mendocino Winery of The Year
Navarro Vineyards
Napa Winery of The Year
Greyscale Wineries
Russian Valley Winery of The Year
Davis Family Vineyards
New Mexico Winery of the Year
Southwest Wines
New York State Winery of The Year or Finger Lakes
Dr. Konstantin Frank
New York North Fork Wine Region Winery of the Year
Sherwood House Vineyards
Oregon Winery of the Year
Cliff Creek Cellars
Tennesse Winery of the Year
Arrington Vineyards
Texas Winery of the Year
Sweet Dreams Winery
Virginia Winery of the Year
Pearmund Cellars
Australia Wine Importer of the Year
Epicurean Wines
Australia Winery of the Year
Thomas Goss
Chilean Winery of the Year
Bodegas y Vinedos De Aguirre S.A. Reina Ana
Italian Winery of the Year
Santa Armosa
New Zealand Winery of the Year
Giesen Winery
New Zealand Importer of the Year
Pernod Ricard New Zealand
Phillipine Wine Importer of the Year
Manny O. Wines
Portugal Importer of the Year
DFJ Vinhos
South Korea Rice Wine Importer of the Year
JP Global Enterprise Corp
South Korea Rice Winery of the Year
Kooksoondang Brewery Co. LTD
Turkey Wine Importer of the Year
Mey Icki Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S.
Turkey Winery of the Year
Sevllen
Family Owned Winery of the Year
Rutherford Wine Company
International Organic Winery of the Year
La Spinosa
US Organic Winery of the Year
Lumos Wine Co.
Kosher Wine Importer/Distributor of the Year
Happy Hear Wines
From the New York International Wine Competition press release
