International Wine & Spirit Competition Announces Tasting Changes for 2010

LONDON, February 9 - The UK's most prestigious, independent wine competition, the
International Wine & Spirit Competition, is now accepting entries from all
countries for 2010.

In an innovative move set to please many producers, the IWSC is moving
the local round of tastings for wines from the USA from London to California.
The USA tasting will take place at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at
the end of March, with judges being recruited locally. This initiative aims
to further raise standards, reduce shipping costs and carbon emissions for
producers and ensure winners from the USA benefit from a higher profile on a
local level as a result.

Noted for its vigorous and unrivalled judging process, the IWSC is proud
to be the only competition of its kind that conducts a full blind tasting
with extensive chemical analysis and a panel of over 300 fully qualified,
experienced industry judges. The three-fold judging cycle has been created
with particular consideration for wine producers' vintage releases, allowing
the IWSC to produce the only truly indicative awards of the year's releases.

The IWSC ensures winners gain truly international exposure and commercial
benefit for their achievements by showcasing them at top international trade
events including Prowein, the London International Wine Fair (LIWF), Vinexpo
and Vinitaly. The IWSC also help raise the profile of winners by generating
editorial coverage in international publications and through retail
promotions.

Frances Horder, IWSC Competition Director said;

"We at the IWSC are constantly striving to offer producers further added
value each year, as the new judging procedure for the USA demonstrates. It's
not easy to win an IWSC award and we understand that for producers, winning
is only the beginning. Once achieved, we work with the producers to help
build brands and drive sales by communicating these triumphs to the trade and
press around the world and we provide all our winners with complimentary
marketing materials and exposure on our website to help them achieve the
recognition they deserve."

The IWSC 2010 is now open for Northern and Southern hemisphere entries.
To enter, please visit the website at www.iwsc.net. You can also request an
entry pack by e-mail at info@iwsc.co.uk or by phone on +44(0)1483-548-963.

Editors' notes:

The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is
the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the
quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs. All
entries of wines, spirits and liqueurs are blind tasted in groups divided by
variety, region and vintage as necessary. Awards are made on a points system
and sponsored trophies are presented in selected categories.

Technical analysis is carried out on Gold, Gold (Best in Class), Silver
(Best in Class) award winning wines, spirits and liqueurs to ensure that all
products are technically sound and will be of the same high quality when they
reach the consumer as they were when the judging panels originally tasted
them.

The IWSC is supported by a group of Vice Presidents made up of some of
the most influential men and women in the trade, including Baroness
Philippine de Rothschild, Miguel Torres, Marchese Piero Antinori, Robert
Drouhin, Paul Symington, May de Lencquesaing, Gina Gallo, Rafael Guilisasti
and this year's IWSC President, Prince Michael zu Salm-Salm, of the
distinguished and most venerated Salm-Dalberg family.

    Deadlines for entries:

    Northern hemisphere:
    26th February 2010 (all entry forms including USA to be submitted to UK)

    Southern hemisphere:
    1st July 2010 (South Africa)
    6th August 2010 (South American countries)
    13th August 2010 (Australia)
    27th August 2010 (New Zealand)

    For further information, please contact:

    David Kelly, Marketing Manager
    IWSC
    17 Dunsfold Park, Stovolds Hill, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8TB
    Tel: +44(0)1483-542-707
    e-mail: DavidK@iwsc.co.uk

    Lucy Richardson
    Phipps PR
    17 Exeter Street, London, WC2E 7DU
    Tel: +44(0)20-7759-7400
    e-mail: lucy.richardson@phippspr.co.uk

For further information, please contact: David Kelly, Marketing Manager, IWSC, 17 Dunsfold Park, Stovolds Hill, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8TB, Tel: +44(0)1483-542-707, e-mail: DavidK at iwsc.co.uk; Lucy Richardson, Phipps PR, 17 Exeter Street, London, WC2E 7DU, Tel: +44(0)20-7759-7400, e-mail: lucy.richardson at phippspr.co.uk