Sommeliers Choice Awards

An American-based international wine competition judged exclusively by sommeliers and on‑premise buyers.

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Themes

Wine Competition On‑Premise Wine Buying Sommelier Judging Wine List Benchmarking

Audience

Wine producers On‑premise buyers Sommeliers Wine directors Restaurant/bar beverage managers

Frequently Asked Questions

Sommeliers Choice Awards benchmarks wines specifically for the on‑premise channel, evaluated solely by top sommeliers and wine buyers.

Organiser & Credibility: Hosted by Beverage Trade Network, leveraging judges who are sommeliers, wine directors and on‑premise buyers at U.S. bars, restaurants and clubs—no external judges.
Judging Process & Criteria: Blind tasting evaluates food‑pairability, typicity, quality, value, and packaging; final scores determine medal levels from Bronze to Double Gold.
Medal System & Honors: Awards include Double Gold (96+), Gold (90–95), Silver (80–89), Bronze (70–79), plus special titles like Wine of the Year and Varietal/Country-specific honors.
Edition & Timing: 7th annual edition held in Chicago; judging in May, winners announced in early June.
Entry Scope & Audience: Targets wine producers and brands seeking recognition by buyers tailored to U.S. on‑premise venues.
Visibility & Integration: Winners featured on Wine‑Searcher listings, BEV‑Trade media platforms (Sommelier Business, Chicago Drinks Guide, etc.), and included in Top 100 On‑Premise Wines publication.
Entry Logistics: Participants register online, pay fees via Stripe or invoice, ship samples with official labels to the warehouse before deadline.
Main Location & Reach: Based in Chicago, USA, but accepts entries from around the world and functions as an international competition.

Overall, the Sommeliers Choice Awards delivers a focused, sommelier‑led evaluation tailored to on‑premise wine selections, offering recognized status and visibility within the U.S. hospitality market.