What is The IEWA?

The IEWA is an independent, consumer focused English wine comp.

But more than that it’s a celebration, and a community.

Our Values

The Independent English Wine Awards exists to champion English wine with integrity, fairness and purpose, for both producers and the people who drink their wines.

We are a consumer-facing competition, committed to helping everyday drinkers discover outstanding English wines, while giving producers credible recognition they can trust.

Everything we do, from how wines are judged to how winners are promoted, is shaped by the values below.

1. Independent Integrity & Trust

IEWA is fiercely independent.

We are not owned by a publishing house, trade body or commercial interest. Our judging process, awards and communications are designed to be transparent, credible and fair - giving producers confidence that recognition is earned, not influenced.

We work with respected, experienced judges and take our responsibility to the industry seriously. Trust matters, especially in a growing and evolving wine category, and we aim to earn it every year.

What this means in practice

  • Independent judging with no commercial influence

  • A clear, credible process producers can trust

  • A competition run professionally and transparently

2. Championing English Wine

We exist to celebrate English wine; its quality, diversity and ambition.

IEWA focuses exclusively on English wines, helping raise their profile with consumers, trade and the wider industry. Through awards, storytelling, visuals and promotion, we aim to showcase just how far English wine has come, and where it is heading next.

Alongside the awards, we bring English wine directly to consumers through our tasting events - including English Wine Will Change Your Life and our seasonal wine fairs. These events are designed to bring our medals to life, helping people taste, learn and engage with English wine in an accessible, inclusive way.

We believe awards matter most when they help people choose and enjoy great wine.

What this means in practice

  • A UK-only competition with a clear identity

  • Strong visual assets, award logos and photography

  • Consumer-facing events that connect medals with real drinking experiences

3. Fair Opportunity & Inclusive Recognition

Great wine comes from producers of all sizes.

IEWA is committed to creating a level playing field where wines are judged on quality, not scale, reputation or marketing budget. We believe small and medium producers deserve the same opportunity for recognition as larger wineries - and that diversity strengthens the category as a whole.

At the same time, we aim to showcase the best of English wine across the entire industry, encouraging excellence wherever it exists.

What this means in practice

  • Wines judged on merit, not brand power

  • A platform that allows smaller producers to shine

  • A credible benchmark across English wine styles and producers.

4. Real Value for Producers

Entering a competition should deliver genuine return - not just a medal.

We keep entry fees reasonable and focus on providing practical value: high-quality marketing assets, social promotion, visibility and ongoing support. We don’t believe in unnecessary upsells or pay-to-play recognition.

By connecting awards with consumer tasting experiences, we help turn recognition into real-world impact, introducing medal-winning wines to new audiences and supporting long-term growth for producers beyond the awards moment.

What this means in practice

  • Fair pricing and no hidden extras

  • Strong social media and marketing support

  • Recognition and assets producers can actually use

Our Commitment

We listen. We adapt. We don’t do things simply because ‘that’s how it’s always been done’.

We keep one eye firmly on the consumer, because the future of English wine depends on people discovering, enjoying and believing in it.

As the English wine industry evolves, so will IEWA, guided by our values, informed by producers, and focused on doing what genuinely serves the category.

Sound good?

People sitting at a table in a restaurant, tasting wine and looking at their phones.
Two women sitting at a wooden table in a restaurant, enjoying drinks and smiling at each other. One woman has blonde hair, is wearing a black top and leopard print skirt, and is holding a wine glass. The other woman, also with blonde hair and a headb
A man with glasses and curly hair sitting at a table in a bar or restaurant, engaged in conversation with a woman. There are several beer bottles on the table and warm, festive lighting in the background.
People sitting at a wooden table in a cozy, rustic wine cellar or restaurant with exposed brick walls, drinking wine and enjoying a tasting session.
Two women smiling and holding bottles with question marks on the labels at a party in a cozy, brick-walled setting with hanging chandeliers and string lights.
Person holding a black bottle of champagne with a gold logo, on a wooden table with a computer, wine glass, and background lights.
People socializing and smiling at a gathering, with a woman in a red leopard print top in focus.
Three men at a social gathering in a brick-walled room, smiling and holding glasses of wine and whiskey, with festive string lights and a chandelier overhead.
A man with glasses and gray hair tasting white wine in a wine glass at a tasting event.
A woman with dark curly hair and dreadlocks, wearing a red dress, is smelling a glass of white wine at a social gathering in a warmly lit room with brick walls and string lights.
Man tasting whiskey in a glass at a bar or tasting room.
A man in a red shirt is sitting at a wooden table, drinking from a champagne glass, with a laptop and tablet in front of him, in a setting with brick walls and string lights.
A man in a navy blazer and black shirt is drinking from a wine glass in a bar or brewery setting with a brick wall background and bottles with question marks on labels in the foreground.
A man with a shaved head and beard, wearing a maroon patterned shirt, is speaking and gesturing with his hands. He is standing in front of a rustic brick and stone wall, decorated with fairy lights, with bottles and glasses on a table in the foregrou
A woman in a pink dress is smiling and holding a glass of white wine while talking to a group of people at a social gathering in a warm-lit room with brick walls.
A black and white photo of a man with a beard and cap, gazing up at a glass of white wine he is holding, set against a bright yellow background.

Alexander Taylor - Founder, IEWA

“English wine is such a buzzing, growing category, and we set up this specialist comp to award, promote and celebrate the creativity, quality and innovation of domestic wine producers from around the country - all regions; to recognise the best products on the market, and to help people make great buying decisions and discoveries...”

A group of people conversing in a rustic brick-walled bar or cellar, with a woman in the foreground working on a laptop at a wooden table.

Trophy Categories

The IEWA trophies are designed to do two things well:

  1. Act as a clear, trustworthy signpost for consumers. 

  2. Reward excellence for producers.

Redesigned for this year’s 2026 competition, rather than creating dozens of narrow or price-led categories, we focus on a small number of meaningful trophies that reflect how English wine is actually made, sold and enjoyed today. This keeps the awards credible, competitive and easy to understand.

There are now 10 IEWA Trophies:

Sparkling Wines
• Best Sparkling White
• Best Sparkling Rosé
• Best Non-Traditional Sparkling

Still Wines
• Best White
• Best Rosé
• Best Red
• Best Alternative / Experimental Still

Producer Awards
• Producer of the Year
• Best Newcomer Trophy
• Artisan Producer of the Year

Of course all wines are judged alongside comparable styles to ensure fairness and consistency, but for consumers the message remains simple:

Medal - or even Trophy - winning English wine, objectively, independently judged.

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Three people sitting at a table in a cozy, brick-walled restaurant, enjoying conversation and drinks. The woman in the center smiles brightly while the other two are blurred.
A woman with blonde hair, glasses, and worn earrings, wearing a blue top and patterned skirt, is holding a glass of white wine and smelling it in a social setting with other people around.
A man wearing glasses and a beige jacket, sitting at a table, smiling, holding a glass of white wine, with a laptop in front of him, in a cozy setting with candlelight and a brick wall in the background.
A young woman pouring champagne into a glass at a social gathering in a restaurant or bar with a brick wall background.
A woman with curly blonde hair, glasses, and a black polka dot dress is talking to a man with short, styled hair wearing a floral shirt at a dinner table in a rustic setting with candles and wine bottles.
Two men smiling, holding wine glasses, in a social setting with other people, wine bottles, and glasses on the table in a cozy, dimly lit restaurant or bar with brick walls.
A man with a beard and casual white t-shirt holds a wine glass with a beverage, listening to conversations among three other people in a warmly-lit, cozy setting decorated with string lights and exposed brick walls.
A woman laughing behind a bar counter, wearing a black apron with the logo 'Avery's Wine Merchant.' A man stands in the background, smiling with arms crossed, in a wood-paneled bar or restaurant setting.
Multiple black bottles with question mark designs on the labels, arranged in a row on a wooden surface, each with a hanging tag.
A woman with glasses, blonde hair, and a denim shirt smiling and looking at another woman with blonde hair wearing a pink sweater, at a restaurant or bar with a brick wall background and wine bottles.
A group of people sitting around a table at a restaurant, engaging in conversation and enjoying drinks. A woman with glasses and blonde hair is smiling and talking to a man with dark hair and glasses.
Person pouring white wine from a bottle into a wine glass on a wooden table, with a glass of water and a flight of beer bottles nearby.
A man with dark hair and a beard is tasting wine from a glass in a wine cellar or tasting room, surrounded by bottles and a brick wall.
People sitting at a bar or restaurant, raising glasses of white wine, with some individuals taking photos or videos, in a warm, dimly lit setting.
A group of people at a wine tasting event, including a woman in a pink shirt with glasses holding a wine glass, with other individuals in the background, some reading and some tasting wine, on a wooden table with glasses, bottles, and electronic devi
Lee Isaacs in a colorful, skull-patterned blazer and floral shirt, judging wine at The IEWA, with blurred lights and the brick walls of Averys Wine Cellar in the background.
A group of people socializing at a bar or restaurant. A woman is smiling and holding a wine glass, while other people are engaged in conversation around her. There are several bottles on the table.
A woman with curly blonde hair wearing a black dress with white polka dots smiling, sitting next to a man with dark hair and a beard looking at his phone, in a cozy setting with exposed brick walls and wine glasses on the table.

Boost your English wine brand

Let us help you get your wines and your brand out there. And of course if you have any questions about the IEWA, please email us at comp@iewa.uk, or by telephone on +44 7599799266.

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