Final Call for Under-40 Industry Professionals to Join Inaugural Panel
Sonoma County, CA (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) — The Next Gen International Wine Awards has announced that judge nominations for its inaugural competition will close on May 15, 2026.
Scheduled for August 25–26, 2026, the competition is judged exclusively by wine professionals 39 years of age & younger — the buyers, sommeliers, winemakers, educators, and media voices actively shaping today’s marketplace and tomorrow’s consumer preferences.
The under-40 judging model is central to the competition’s mission: providing wineries with meaningful insight into how the next generation evaluates quality, price, packaging, and brand relevance.
“As we finalize the inaugural judging panel, our priority is assembling a group of professionals who bring both credibility and real-world marketplace perspective,” said Debra Del Fiorentino, Founder of Wine and Spirits Competitions Management & Productions. “The May 15 deadline ensures we can complete the selection process thoughtfully and maintain the professional standards that define a well-run competition.”
“As founding sponsor, Wine Industry Network is proud to support a competition that reflects how our industry is evolving,” said George Christie, President of Wine Industry Network. “If we want to understand what resonates with the next generation of wine consumers, we need the right voices at the judging table. These judges will help shape that perspective.”
The competition seeks nominations from wine professionals who:
- Are 39 years of age or younger
- Are actively working as winemakers, sommeliers, buyers, educators, or wine media professionals
- Will be available to judge August 25–26, 2026, in Sonoma County
Judge nominations may be submitted through the official website.
Wineries may enter the competition now, with entries closing August 7, 2026.
For more information or to submit a nomination, visit NextGenWineAwards.com.
About the Next Gen International Wine Awards
The Next Gen International Wine Awards is a forward-looking wine competition judged exclusively by wine professionals under the age of 40. Designed to reflect how today’s emerging consumers discover and evaluate wine, the competition provides wineries with insight into generational perspective, pricing context, and market relevance. The inaugural judging will take place August 25–26, 2026, in Sonoma County, California.
About Wine and Spirits Competitions Management & Productions
Wine and Spirits Competitions Management & Productions brings three decades of experience producing professionally managed wine competitions across the United States. Led by Debra Del Fiorentino, the organization is known for operational integrity, rigorous judging standards, and excellence in competition management.
About Wine Industry Network (WIN)
Wine Industry Network has been connecting wine professionals and supporting industry growth for 17 years through media, events, and strategic partnerships. WIN serves as the presenting sponsor and promotional partner of the Next Gen International Wine Awards.
