What makes the Idaho Wine Awards the state’s best wine recognition program?
Our thorough evaluation is of the highest integrity and our thoughtful process provides both our Tasting Panel and entries the best environment for tasting. Each entry is personally received, reviewed, confirmed and entered into our program. Every bottle is proofed for soundness by a team of certified sommeliers to ensure the entry is true to its’ origin. Entries are checked for bottle variation and no tainted wines are ever poured for our panel. The Idaho Wine Awards Tasting Panel features the top local, regional and national wine professionals consisting of highly respected Wine Directors, Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, Wine Buyers and Industry Journalists. The entries that earn recognition in the Idaho Wine Awards must achieve professional consensus where they earn one of the following awards in their respective price/wine/cider categories: Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze ~ Grand Awards of Excellence and our Diamonds of The Decade category provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate Red wines with elegance, balance, beauty and longevity from the 2006 vintage – 10 years ago. This honor is the highest recognition a library selection can earn in the state of Idaho.
Meet our Tasting Panel
The regions and nation’s most prominent wine professionals are represented on our Tasting Panel. Comprised of respected Wine Directors, Buyers, Distributors, Educators, Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine who know what world-class wine is all about. Our panel tastes wine single-blind (meaning they know only the varietal and not the price nor producer). Please visit our Tasting Panel page to learn more.
How are the wines evaluated?
Our experienced Tasting Panel employs a modified 20-point system to score each submission are reviewed in flights that reflect the similar price, variety and style. Each entry is tasted and considered on the following criteria:
Aroma & Bouquet / Flavor & Palate / Structure & Balance / Typicity & Complexity / Overall Impression
Holiday Wine Fest
We’re offering wine consumers and connoisseurs a chance to sip, sample and celebrate local, national and international award winning wines at the 2016 Holiday Wine Fest page for more information.
Thank you for visiting
We hope you will browse our site to learn more about our history, our tasting panel and past award winners. Please share us with a fellow wine friend!