The Tasting Competition
The Tasting Competition is one of the highlights of WSWA's Access LIVE, offering a remarkable opportunity for additional exposure for your brand. This blind tasting competition rewards excellence in taste and provides opportunities for both established and emerging brands to garner recognition that will enhance their visibility during the show and establish enduring credibility for their products.
The competition welcomes all registered exhibitors and suite holders at WSWA's Access LIVE showcasing wine, spirits and RTDs, along with non-alcoholic spirits, RTDs and mixers, and hemp/CBD products offering non-dosed samples.
Winners will be announced at the start of WSWA's Access LIVE 2027, by February 2, giving brands the opportunity to showcase their achievements and gain added visibility throughout the event and beyond. Medals will be awarded for Best of Show, Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze, with winners receiving a medal and winner placard to showcase in their booth or suite, along with digital award assets to extend their recognition. Double Gold and Best of Show products will also gain added exposure in the WSWA's Access LIVE winners display.
Up to 10 Sweepstakes winners will also be selected by the Tasting Alliance to participate in their 2027 San Francisco World Spirits Competition or San Francisco International Wine Competition with their entry fees waived.
Powered By: The Tasting Alliance
How to Enter
Judging & Criteria
Judging and criteria for The Tasting Competition are managed by The Tasting Alliance. With over 40 years of experience, The Tasting Alliance is the world’s leading authority in beverage competitions, renowned for its credibility and influence. As the largest and longest-standing blind evaluation competition globally, The Tasting Alliance upholds an unmatched level of impartiality and precision in its judging process. Trusted by the industry’s finest, it has elevated the profile of thousands of brands and is considered the ultimate curator of the world’s top wines and spirits. Earning a medal from this competition is a pivotal milestone for producers seeking to gain industry recognition.
Entry Requirements
- To be eligible to participate, the brand must have company representatives registered for WSWA's Access LIVE 2027 as an exhibitor or suite holder.
- Complete The Tasting Competition entry form to enter the competition and email to Hanna Empen at Exhibits@wswa.org. There is a nominal administrative entry fee to be paid during your online exhibitor registration.
- Entries are due January 8 at a discounted rate of $150 per product. Late entries submitted January 9–15 will incur a $195-per-product fee.
- Product submitted for the Tasting Competition must be sent in a separate box from booth/suite product, labeled with the Tasting Competition Destination Label, and shipped through a licensed Texas wholesaler following WSWA’s Product Handling Guidelines.
For more information, please contact Hanna Empen at exhibits@wswa.org.