IWSC judges travel to China: “We can’t wait to meet Chinese wine producers!” »

In August, IWSC will host the first Global Wine Judging in China, in partnership with the northern Tianshan Mountains region of Xinjiang. Our panel of international and local industry experts will be responsible for tasting and reviewing wines from across the country. Additionally, our team of judges will visit local wine producers to immerse themselves in Chinese wine culture. Before the event, we met with three of our international judges to find out their expectations for the upcoming judging and their thoughts on the quality of Chinese wines. Read on to find out what IWSC judging panel member Susie Barrie MW and judges Antony Moss MW and Isa Bal MS had to say.

What are your expectations for the upcoming judgment in China and what is your opinion on the overall quality of Chinese wines?

Susie Barrie MW:
I cannot deny that being asked to supervise the juries for this first year of IWSC in China is a real responsibility, and certainly not a role I take lightly. I have chaired many wine competitions during my career and this is an incredible opportunity that I would have been crazy to turn down. That said, I am also aware that Chinese producers trust us and that it is our duty to ensure that each wine is judged with rigor and fairness.

One thing I’m particularly looking forward to is the opportunity to blind taste a wide range of Chinese wines with other experts. In my experience, I have tried some elegant Chinese wines, some expressive ones, but what I will also look for are wines with a real sense of character, identity and ambition in all regions . The kind of wines that get people excited and motivated to explore. So I’m going to China with a completely open mind!

Antony Moss MD:
I have a positive opinion of Chinese wines, and fairly high expectations based in particular on the red wines I have tasted in recent years. But I am also aware that it is a country where the diversity of wine styles remains to be fully explored (by consumers and producers alike). The ever-increasing expertise (and investment) certainly helps.

Regarding the competition, I expect the usual rigor and integrity of the IWSC. The wines themselves – it all depends on who goes into their wines (which, by blind tasting, we can’t know). The last time I blind tasted a large quantity of Chinese wines was almost ten years ago, when the general standard was good, especially from Ningxia, although many wines from the period could have been improved by reducing the oak and being a little lighter in tannins. . There was a hauntingly beautiful ice wine that was a delicious find. I’m particularly interested in trends in red wine styles, something you only really see when you try lots of wines side by side.

Isa Bal MS:
I try to go to tastings without expectations and focus on what I’m tasting. From my previous experiences tasting Chinese wines, there seems to be a wide range of styles and qualities. However, I see an increase in quality every year.

What part of the trip are you most looking forward to?

Susie Barrie MW:
Having never visited China, I’m really looking forward to every moment. Discovering a new country is always exciting, and even more so when it is a country as large and influential as China. I know the judging is going to be fascinating, but I also look forward to going to the wineries and meeting the people who actually make these products. Let’s just hope their English is better than my Chinese…

Antony Moss MD:
The judgment will be interesting, including discussions with the other judges to reach our conclusions. But I’m really looking forward to having the chance to visit vineyards and see local production, including seeing how the vines are grown in such difficult climatic conditions. I am very interested to see to what extent sustainability practices are considered or have been adopted. This is a major topic in the global industry, and I think the role that vineyards can play in carbon sequestration (and resulting soil improvement) could be particularly relevant, but such Arid conditions seem very difficult for the most common regeneration practices. I have a lot to ask!

Isa Bal MS:
I’m really looking forward to seeing the region where the wine is actually produced. I think being in the region really helps to understand the wines that are produced there.

What will you look for in a medal-winning wine from China?

Susie Barrie MW:
Exactly the same thing I look for in any medal-winning wine, no matter where in the world it comes from: drinkability. Whatever the style, color or aging of a wine, it must be balanced and refreshing to be truly great. Added to this is character and typicality which are also extremely important. I want to drink wines that have something to say, wines that surprise, delight and impress – and I’m sure we’ll judge a lot of that in this competition.

Antony Moss MD:
The best thing an international competition can do is judge wines against international standards, which can be very unforgiving. Therefore, winning an IWSC medal is proof of exceptional quality recognized by the industry. And if you don’t win a medal, the feedback you receive from the judges will be invaluable and could be instrumental in the future success of your wines in the global market.

Of course, local stylistic typicality can be taken into account, but other quality criteria such as the technical competence of the winemaking (not just the absence of defects, but aspects such as the sensitive use of oak and the careful management of tannins), expressiveness and complexity, general balance and ability to provide pleasure are more universal. I’ll look for all of this.

Isa Bal MS:
As with wines from all other regions that I taste, I will look for the style of wine that reflects the varietal character and shows a sensitive approach to winemaking. The overall balance and quality of the fruit is also high on my list.

Why do you think it will be beneficial for Chinese producers to participate in IWSC Wine Judging in China?

Susie Barrie MW:
As we all know, for a wine country to compete on the global stage, it is essential that its wines are tasted and evaluated by experts with a global perspective. There’s nothing like tasting wines in their country of origin. With the IWSC sending a panel of international judges to China to judge alongside local experts, producers get the best possible endorsement for their wines, and the subsequent international promotion of the winners will be invaluable.

Antony Moss MD:
Len Evans said that the purpose of competitions is to “improve the breed”. I think that’s an important aspect, identifying the best ones so that they can serve as benchmarks against which others can measure themselves. Wineries that perform less well should taste the winning wines and think about how they could improve, which should include critical thinking rather than simply copying (otherwise everything ends up tasting the same and there is has too many followers and too few leaders). Or, less successful wineries may come to the conclusion that they still prefer to make wine their way, but gain insight into why their (maverick!) wines may struggle to find an audience wider. They can think about how to communicate the unique features they prefer to keep rather than “improve.” Meanwhile, winning wines gain time in the spotlight and enjoy greater customer exposure. Competitions like this are particularly useful to buyers in international markets looking to find a shortlist of wines to purchase.

Isa Bal MS:
It will show what international markets are looking for in wine and establish a link between Chinese wines and the rest of the global industry.

The IWSC Wine Judging in China, in partnership with the Northern Tianshan Mountains region of Xinjiang, will take place August 26-28, 2024. The registration deadline is July 22, 2024. Learn more here.