The On Trade 
25/11/2024 The London Wine Competition has announced its esteemed judging panel for the 2025 edition, featuring an expanded lineup of influential professionals from across the wine industry.
This year, the competition welcomes not only sommeliers and hospitality experts but also top wine importers, distributors, and fine wine merchants. The goal is clear: to ensure the awarded wines meet the highest standards of quality, value, and packaging, while also reflecting their relevance and appeal in today’s competitive market.
Expanding Expertise: A Judging Panel Like No Other
For 2025, the competition has taken a bold step by broadening its judging panel to include decision-makers from across the wine supply chain. These professionals are directly involved in buying, distributing, and selling wines to consumers, making their insights invaluable. Among the esteemed judges are representatives from industry-leading businesses such as:
Made in Little France Import Limited
Valeria Rodriguez AIWS, Head of Fine Wine Bibendum Wine
These names represent the heartbeat of the UK’s wine trade, combining decades of expertise, market knowledge, and a deep understanding of consumer preferences. Their involvement ensures that the London Wine Competition continues to set a benchmark for excellence in the global wine industry.
Why Include Importers, Distributors, and Fine Wine Merchants?
Sid Patel, CEO of the London Wine Competition, explains the strategic move:
"We are thrilled to have an expanded judging panel for the 2025 competition, including not only sommeliers and on-trade experts but also top importers, distributors, and off-trade fine wine merchants. These professionals are at the forefront of the wine industry, making critical decisions about what wines make it to the market and onto consumers' tables. By including their expertise, we ensure the awarded wines are not only exceptional in quality but also commercially viable and appealing to buyers at every level of the supply chain. This evolution reflects our commitment to recognizing wines that truly excel in all aspects—quality, value, and packaging—while staying relevant to the demands of the trade and end consumers."
Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network, organizers of the London Wine Competition
A Judging Criteria That Reflects Consumer Needs
Unlike traditional competitions that focus solely on quality, the London Wine Competition assesses wines based on three key criteria:
1) Quality – How well the wine is made.
2) Value – Does the wine offer good value for money?
3) Packaging – Does the bottle appeal to the target audience?
This unique approach aligns the competition with consumer expectations, ensuring that awarded wines resonate in the market.
Setting Global Standards from London
The London Wine Competition continues to elevate the standards of the global wine industry. By bringing together the best minds from the UK’s wine trade—spanning on-trade, off-trade, and distribution—the competition offers a comprehensive evaluation of what makes a wine truly exceptional.
For more information about the 2025 London Wine Competition, visit [https://londonwinecompetition.com/en/]. Stay tuned as the judging panel convenes to celebrate the very best in wine, making an impact on both the trade and consumers worldwide.
Also Read:
Master Sommelier Kathrine Larsen Joins the 2025 London Wine Competition Judging Panel
UK’s Top Wine Importers, Distributors, and Merchants Join the 2025 London Wine Competition
Matteo Furlan Brings Expertise and Passion to the London Wine Competition Judging Panel
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