Wine

Decanter World Wine Awards

Decanter operates at two levels: as a wine publication providing expert journalism and buying advice, and as the organizer of the world's largest wine competition. The magazine has shaped global wine culture since 1975, while the Decanter World Wine Awards—launched in 2004 by Steven Spurrier of Judgment of Paris fame—has become the benchmark competition for wine quality assessment. The scale sets DWWA apart: over 18,000 wines judged annually by panels including nearly 100 Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers. The blind tasting methodology means wines are evaluated on what's in the glass, not label recognition or producer reputation. For consumers and trade professionals alike, a Decanter medal—particularly at the Gold, Platinum, or Best in Show level—provides among the more credible quality benchmarks available in wine retail. The familiar medal sticker on a bottle is shorthand for "independently verified quality."