Judges

If you have judged for us in previous years, please get in touch to register your interest to judge with us again.

This is your chance to judge alongside Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine and some of the best names in the business in the only competition focused entirely on on-trade wines.

Not only that, you'll get to taste some amazing wine and spend valuable face-to-face time with your peers. Over the judging days we provide lunch and plenty of coffee. We also promote our judges and their involvement in the competition to our wider SWA audience through our marketing campaign.
 

What happens at SWA?

Each judging day you’ll be put into a team with a Senior Judge and a Team Leader to help guide you. At the end of tasting each flight you’ll have time to collectively discuss your opinions and come to a group decision about the scoring of the wines.

All the wines are blind tasted by category and are judged on food-friendliness, versatility, typicity, personality and importantly, value for money at whatever the price. Judges are shown the trade prices of each wine as they are judging a flight.
 

Requirements:

Our requirements are:

  • You are currently working as a sommelier/ restaurant manager and serve or buy wine for venue/s in the on-trade, or are a leading consultant developing wine lists.

  • Must be over 18 years of age.

Benefits:

  • Take part in judging for a competition that boasts some of the very best on-trade wines from around the world.

  • Taste a variety of different wines which are grouped into flights separated by region, grapes and styles to improve your category tasting skills.

  • Work alongside Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine as well as industry leading sommeliers.

  • Benefit from our SWA marketing campaign, promoting your involvement as a judge, including an online directory and results annoucements featured in Harpers Wine & Spirit

  • Complimentary lunch and refreshments during the judging dates.

How do I get involved?

If you are interested in joining our panel of judges please contact SWA@agilemedia.co.uk