The Independent Canned Wine Awards will seek to validate this fast-evolving category
It is the UK’s first independent, consumer-focused competition solely for wines packaged in cans
The ICWA is open to all canned wines and spritzers currently available on the UK market
Judges include winemakers, brewers, inventors and are led by a Master of Wine
March 31st – 2023 sees the launch of a new wine competition with a difference: one aimed solely at wine packaged in cans. The inaugural Independent Canned Wine Awards (ICWA) will be judged in May, with results revealed at the start of June 2023.
Founder of the ICWA, Alex Taylor says:
“Canned wines are having a ‘moment’. This outwardly colourful, innovative, vibrant single-serve category has been available on selected shelves for a number of years now, but latterly it’s like the media dial has been turned up on the category by several notches.
“As well as a huge uptick in quality in the past couple of years, the styles of wines now available in cans is so broad that it caters for almost all different tastes and preferences; red, white, rosé, orange, natural, sparkling, single varietals, blends, spritzers and low alcohol – there is a canned wine for everyone.”
The new competition is open to all canned wines and spritzers currently available on the UK market, regardless of country of origin. Flights will be organised according to style, and assessment and medal classifications – where awarded – will be arrived at by medal, without reference to a points scale.
Victoria Moore, Wine correspondent at The Telegraph, says:
“I see more and more interest in canned wine – people like the smaller serve and the portability and the well-designed ones are incredibly tactile. It’s really exciting seeing so many new players coming into the market, with drive and a fresh eye. Cans have done so much for craft beer – so why not for wine?”
Olly Smith, wine expert and broadcaster adds:
“Infinitely recyclable as well as a category that’s romping ahead with rising quality levels, cans are one of wine’s most exciting practical innovations.”
The competition will be judged in May in Bristol. Master of Wine Liam Steevenson has oversight of a judging panel which is as dynamic and forward looking as the category itself.
Alex Taylor concludes:
“Summer 2023 in the UK really does look set to me to be a breakthrough season for canned wines, and we hope the ICWA will help guide consumers to the best-tasting examples available.”
The competition is open for entries until 1 May 2023. Results will be announced on 9 June.
Competition entries can be made at ICWA.uk
Learn more at ICWA.uk and via their socials at
@the.icwa (Instagram and Facebook) and
@the_icwa (TikTok)
