Come April next year, Singapore will witness hundreds of wines from across the globe enter its shores, when the 4th edition of the WSA Wine Challenge kicks off to a spirited battle as international wines vie for greater recognition and acceptance in the expanding Asian wine market.

The WSA Wine Challenge 2010 (formerly known as the Wine&SpiritsAsia Challenge), seeks to promote knowledge, prestige and value of world-class wines to Asia. The competition will feature the participation of wineries, winemakers, wine importers and traders from all over the world. Submissions will be judged by country, region and varietal. Special awards will be bestowed to the Best Red, Best White, Best Sparkling and Best Wine of Challenge.

The deadline for entry is 15 March 2010, and all entry wines must be shipped to the competition venue by 6 April 2010. The wines will be judged from 17 to 19 April 2010 at the Raffles Town Club, and final results will be announced on 19 April 2009.

The WSA Wine Challenge was formed as a part of WSA (Wine&SpiritsAsia), an international trade event dedicated to wine and spirits products and services. The exhibition serves as a platform to connect wine and spirits buyers from Asia with leading international sellers. Winning wines will be prominently displayed and opened for tasting at the WSA2010 show floor from 20 to 23 April 2010, presenting winning wines an exclusive chance for exposure to thousands of potential wine buyers from Asia's food and hospitality industry.

2010 marks new beginnings for the event. In addition to a new name, the WSA Wine Challenge will feature a carefully selected team of judges, including two Masters of Wine, who are influential professionals from the Asian wine industry. Being wine connoisseurs, sommeliers, restaurateurs, wine procurers and merchants, these industry veterans are the choice professionals to discern the wine entries for Asia's palate.

The judging panel will be led by Chief Judge, Mr. Joel Payne, President of FIJEV (International Federation of Wine and Spirits Journalists and Writers) since 2008. Mr. Payne, an expatriate American living in Germany since 1983, is highly respected for his judging of wines, having covered Germany's 2006, 2005 and 2004 vintages in the International Wine Challenge (IWC).

"Although I have been asked to chair this competition, it has been important for me that the panels at the Singapore Wine Challenge be dominated by the finest palates of Asia. Just as the British, Italian and American authorities often disagree upon what is a great Saint Emilion, I would like to see to see the same debate emerge with Japanese, Chinese and Indian judges on what each expects from an Australian Shiraz. At the end, the common denominator should provide an Asian point of view," said Chief Judge Mr. Joel Payne.

Cav. Subhash Arora, President of the Indian Wine Academy and one of the judges at WSA Wine Challenge 2010 further explains, "Participants of the WSA Wine Challenge can be assured of the very high standard of professional judging and winning wines will receive very valuable industry recognition. The sampling is done totally blind and judges are given the opportunity to deliberate after each individual scoring and come to a unanimous decision. In cases where opinions differ greatly, the judges on the other panels are brought in to ensure every entry gets a fair shake and an objective score."

Asia's wine consumption has risen sharply in recent years, and the trend looks set to flourish. Consumption of fine wines is growing as consumers become increasingly knowledgeable and sophisticated, resulting in an even deeper pool of wine buyers from this region. By offering widespread exposure to potential Asian buyers and the exclusive opportunity for greater industry acknowledgment, the WSA Wine Challenge is undoubtedly the choice platform for global wines to speak out and gain a foothold into Asia.

WSA2010 At A Glance:

Show: WSA2010 – Asia's international trade exhibition of wine and spirits (co-located with FHA2010)

Date: 20 - 23 April 2010 (Tuesday – Friday)

Venue: Singapore Expo

Opening Hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm (20 - 22 April, Tuesday – Thursday)
10.00am – 4:00pm (23 April, Friday)