The competition will focus on the needs of on-premise establishments such as bars, restaurants, lounges, and clubs.

Sommeliers in the USA will now have a valuable tool for recognizing which wines – especially wines from up-and-coming international wine regions – would make an important addition to that restaurant’s wine list. That is particularly important in today’s competitive marketplace, where on-premise establishments are using their wine lists as an important and valuable way to stand out from the crowd and attract new customers. [Enter Your Wines Here]

The judging panel of the Sommeliers Choice Awards will consist entirely of top sommeliers, wine directors at U.S. restaurants, bars, pubs, and clubs. In order to be selected as a judge, sommeliers need to provide evidence of their expertise within the on-premise industry.

Wines will be judged according to criteria such as how well they pair with food, typicity, value, quality, and packaging. The Sommeliers Choice Awards is currently accepting entries for a variety of different categories.

Competition overview  |  Judges  | Judging Process | Enter Online

Benefits and Visibility

Here are just few of the reasons to enter your wines in SCA.

1. Raise the profile of your wines

Winning a Sommeliers Choice Award is a mark of excellence that is recognized across the wine industry. Especially if you are a wine producer or merchant from a non-U.S. wine destination, this is the perfect chance to win recognition for your wines within the U.S. marketplace.

2. Get in front of a hard-to-reach audience

The judging panel of the Sommeliers Choice Awards will consist entirely of top sommeliers, on-premise wine buyers, and wine directors at U.S. restaurants, bars, pubs, and clubs. The Sommeliers Choice Awards provide an opportunity to reach a large group of these influential trade professionals.

3. Promote your award-winning wines 

All winners at the Sommeliers Choice Awards are fully supported by Beverage Trade Network in promoting their new medals or awards. Examples of promotional support include:

1. Prominent listing on the Sommeliers Choice Awards website
2. Press release mention of all winners at the conclusion of the event
3. Social media marketing support
4. Medal stickers for bottles
5. Award logos and other promotional materials (available for download)
6. Special features on all Gold Medal winners
7. Entry into Top 100 Wines For On-Premise Sector list of your wine is in the top 100.

4. Benefits for medal winners

Being entered into the Sommeliers Choice Awards is an easy, affordable and effective way to get your wines tasted by an all-star judging panel of top sommeliers, many of whom are also wine industry consultants and wine buyers. Medal winners receive additional benefits – such as special promotional logos and stickers that they can add to wine bottles, social media marketing support, and regular mention in both press releases and on the Sommeliers Choice Awards website.

As a result of winning a medal at the Sommeliers Choice Awards, you will be able to:

1. Increase your sales within the very important U.S. wine market
2. Reach a new audience of on-premise buyers, consultants, and sommeliers
3. Promote your awards in key international markets
4. Attract additional PR and media attention for award-winning wines
5. Increase the reach and recognition of other wines in your wine portfolio
6. In some cases, a single Medal or Award will continue to benefit your wine sales for years to come.

There is no better way to reach sommeliers at top U.S. hotels, restaurants, bars and pubs than to win an award that is by and for other sommeliers. All judging is by leading sommeliers and on-premise wine buyers, ensuring that all awards and scores earned within the competition are backed by a guarantee of quality. When wine buyers are looking for wines to add to a wine list, the first place they look is the Sommeliers Choice Awards. Names of award winners will be distributed nationwide to trade buyers within the United States.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Enter your wines in 2019 Sommeliers Choice Awards (Early Bird Submission Deadline: 20 December 2018)

Key Dates:

Early Bird Registration: November 16, 2018 to December 20, 2018
Regular Registration Ends: March 31, 2019
Warehouse Closes For Samples: April 30, 2019
Judging: May 19-20, 2019
Winners Announced: June 10, 2019

Fee Schedule (Per Wine In USD)

$90 - November 16, 2018 to December 20, 2018 (Early bird pricing)
$120 - December 21, 2018 to March 31, 2019 (Regular Registration)
$140 - April 01, 2019 to April 20, 2019

(Price in USD)

Shipping Info:

Please send your samples (3 bottles per entry) to SCA at the below address between 1 October 2018 and 30 April 2019 to the following address:

MHW Ltd - Sommeliers Choice Awards
c/o Northwest Distribution and Storage, Inc.
1745 Oxford St. SE #150
Salem, OR 97302

Goods receiving time: Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm.

*Wines that arrives after the deadline date will not be accepted and refunds will not be issued.

*Official SCA shipping labels MUST BE USED and are on the 'My shipping labels' section of 'My account'. You can download and print your shipping label. Please note that your reference number is on the shipping label and it is very important for SCA team to see your shipping label on your box and one copy inside your box. Clearly, label each box of wine using the shipping label. Official SCA shipping labels must be used to send samples.

Early Bird pricing ends on December 20, 2018. Enter today and save $30 per wine.