Wine & Spirits Tasting Competitions
The Wine & Spirits Tasting Competition is one of the highlights of 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 will conclude prior to the start of Access LIVE, allowing participating brands to proudly showcase their achievements throughout their entire Access LIVE experience, thus amplifying their brand presence. New this year: after the competition, 10 winners will advance to the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Powered By: The Tasting Alliance
2025 Competition Results are In!
How to Enter
Judging & Criteria
New this year, judging and criteria for the Wine & Spirits Tasting Competition will be 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.
Winners of the competition will be announced by Tuesday, February 4. Medals will be awarded for Best of Show, Double Gold, Gold and Silver. All winners will receive ribbons and placards for display in their booth or suite, as well as digital award files. Double Gold and Best of Show winning products will be showcased in the winners display case at Access LIVE. Best of Show winners will be invited to the Access HQ CONNECT to provide attendees with a taste of their winning product(s). After the competition, 10 winners will advance to the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible to participate, the brand must have company representatives registered for Access LIVE as an exhibitor or suite holder.
Complete the Wine Tasting Competition Entry Form and Spirits Tasting Competition Entry Form to enter the competition and email to Hanna Empen (hanna@wswa.org). There is a nominal administrative entry fee of $175 (per product) to be paid during your online exhibitor registration.
Wines and spirits submitted for the Wine & Spirits Tasting Competition must be sent in a separate box from booth/suite product, labeled with the Wine & Spirits Competition Destination Label, and shipped through a licensed Colorado wholesaler following WSWA’s Product Handling Guidelines.
For more information, please contact Hanna Empen (hanna@wswa.org).