Wine & Spirits Competitions by SommCon
More Than a Medal. A Way In.
Blind-tasted by industry professionals. Introduced to buyers at SommCon.
Where great beverages meet the people who pour them.
Don't Wait - Early Entry Pricing Increases June 16
About the Wine & Spirits
Competition
Concours d’Vin and Concours d’Spirits are blind-tasted wine and spirits competitions designed to recognize quality in the glass—and connect awarded products with buyers through real-world exposure at SommCon.
Entries are evaluated by experienced industry professionals to ensure an objective and credible assessment.
Following judging, awarded wines and spirits are introduced to SommCon’s audience of sommeliers, beverage directors, and buyers, with additional visibility through The SOMM Journal.
Earning a medal is only the beginning
From Recognition to Real-World Exposure
Following evaluation, awarded wines and spirits are positioned for visibility with the professionals who influence purchasing decisions and beverage programs.
Blind. Structured. Credible.
All entries are assessed through blind tasting by a panel of industry professionals, including sommeliers, buyers, educators, and beverage leaders.Each submission is evaluated based solely on its merits in the glass—without influence from branding, pricing, or reputation. This process ensures integrity, consistency, and trust in the results.
Judged by Buyers, Somms and
Leaders in Wine & Spirits
Toshio Ueno
MSS, Global Ambassador & Director
Mutual Trading Co., Inc.
Erik Segelbaum
Owner
SOMLYAY, GoodSomm, Amalfi Beverage Co., SWIG Partners
Maurice DiMarino
Beverage Director
Cohn Restaurant Group
David Glancy
MS, CWE, Founder & CEO
San Francisco Wine School
Larissa Dubose
National Director Of Beverages
Paradies Lagardere/Vino Volo
Kyungmoon Kim
MS, Founder
KMS Imports
Jordi Paronella
Wine Director
José Andrés Group
Vanessa Cominsky
Key Account Manager
Prestige Ledroit Distributing Co.
Tiffany Tobey
Sommelier
Tiffanys Toast, Ritz Carlton Resort
Meridith May
Editor-In-Chief/Publishe
The Somm Journal & The Tasting Panel Magazine
What You Receive
Awarded entries receive more than a medal. Following judging,
recognition extends through a series of industry-facing touchpoints
designed to increase visibility among the trade.
Buyer Exposure
Access to SommCon’s
audience of qualified
beverage professionals
Opportunity for discovery
within a live tasting
environment
Presented where buyers
actively discover and
evaluate products
Publication in The SOMM Journal
Exposure to sommeliers,
buyers, and beverage
professionals nationwide
Inclusion in official results coverage
Print and digital visibility
Extended Visibility
Inclusion in official
competition
communications
Digital and social promotion
following results
Medal Recognition
Official Concours d’Vin /
Concours d’Spirits award
designation
Digital medal assets for
marketing and sales use
A Competition Connected to the Industry
Concours d’Vin and Concours d’Spirits are part of SommCon Conference & Beverage Expo, bringing awarded wines and spirits
into a setting where buyers, sommeliers, and beverage leaders gather to evaluate, source, and discover.
Extend Your Recognition
Results are published in The SOMM Journal, a respected publication read by sommeliers, buyers, and beverage professionals nationwide.
This ensures your recognition reaches beyond the competition, placing your product in front of the broader trade audience through trusted editorial coverage.
Entry Details & Key Dates
Key Dates
Early Entry Pricing
Ends June 15
Entry Deadline
October 1
Shipping Deadline
October 1
Judging
November 3
Winners Circle
November 4-5
Pricing
Spirits – $355
Wine – $145
Prices increase
$20/entry on June 16
Enter More, Save More
1–5 Entries: Rack Rate
6–10 Entries: 10% Off
11+ Entries: 15% Off
Requirements
Wine Entries:
Three (3) 750ml
(or equivalent)
bottles per entry
Spirit Entries:
Two (2) 750ml
(or equivalent)
bottles per entry
FAQ's
What is Concours d’Vin / Concours d’Spirits?
Concours d’Spirits and Concours d’Vin are SommCon’s annual wine and spirits
competitions. Submissions are judged blind by a panel of judges and awarded medals in
accordance with performance during blind evaluation. Judging takes place during
SommCon Conference & Beverage Expo and medal-winning wines and spirits are
showcased during the event.
What types of products can enter the competitions?
Concours d’Vin: Dry White Wines, Late Harvest/Dessert Wines, Dry Red Wines, Sweet Wines, Rosé Wines, Champagne, Sparkling Wines, Fortified Wines, Rice-Based Wines, Fruit Wines, Mead/Honey-Based Wines, Non-Alcoholic Wines, Vermouth, Pre-Mixed Wine Cocktails, and Wine/Spirit Hybrids
Concours d’Spirits: Vodka, Gin & Genever, Aquavit, Soju/Shochu, Rum & Sugarcane Spirits, Agave Spirits, Whiskies, Brandies, Liqueurs, Amaro, Pre-Mixed Cocktails (RTDs)
How are the results communicated?
Results are published on SommCon’s website and in The SOMM Journal magazine, distributed via press release and SommCon’s email and social media channels. Medal winners also receive a press release template to support their own efforts around promoting their award.
When is the competition held?
How much does it cost to enter?
How do I submit my product for evaluation?
An entry form must be submitted for all products entering the competition. Following the completion of the official entry form, product must be shipped to our warehouse to be inventoried prior to the competition.
Wine entries must submit three 750ml (or equivalent) bottles per entry and spirits entries must submit two 750ml (or equivalent) bottles per entry.
What are the benefits of entering Concours d’Vin / Concours d’Spirits?
Concours d’Vin and Concours d’Spirits are designed to offer more than medal recognition alone. All entries are evaluated through blind tasting by industry professionals, then awarded wines and spirits receive exposure to buyers and beverage professionals through SommCon and The SOMM Journal.
- Blind-tasted evaluation by industry professionals
- Official medal recognition and digital award assets
- Exposure to buyers, sommeliers, and beverage leaders at SommCon
- Results published in The SOMM Journal
- Inclusion in post-competition promotional and media outreach
Do I need to be present at SommCon to participate in the competition?
No, you do not need to be present at SommCon to enter the competition. However, medal-winning producers exhibiting at the SommCon Beverage Expo receive additional on-site recognition at their table or booth, creating added visibility with buyers, sommeliers, and beverage professionals attending the trade tasting.