HOW TO ENTER
ENTRIES FOR THE 28TH JAPAN WINE CHALLENGE 2025 ARE NOW OPEN!
Entry Deadline: Wednesday 10th September 2025
Sample Delivery Period: Thursday 1st May to Wednesday 17th September 2025
Please read the following rules.
You can enter online from “Entry Form”
but if you would like the Entry Form and Wine Form in Excel
please download from here:
Entry Form and Wine Form in Excel
1. REQUIREMENTS
We welcome every wine from any vineyard in the world which is commercially available anywhere.
* Awards will only refer to a single homogeneous batch of wine, originating at the time of bottling from one and the same container.
* Wines must be labeled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the country of origin and show the name of the region and the geographical area of origin of the wine. In addition, the year in which the grapes used were harvested must be shown.
* Wine must be in 750ml/720ml bottles unless a sweet or fortified wine when we will accept the equivalent volume in 375ml or 500ml bottles.
* Wines must be available in quantities of at least 1,000 litres held for the purpose of release to the market, in containers of a nominal volume not exceeding 2 litres. However, should certain categories of wine be produced in particularly small quantities, batches of wine of less than 1,000 litres may be accepted, but not of less than 100 litres.
* Wines that are not yet exposed in the market can be accepted.
Wine Categories – Please download the list of categories for Japan Wine Challenge judging
2.COST TO ENTER
Entrants may submit as many wines as they wish. A handling charge of EUROS 250 (including 10% consumption tax) will be made for each wine entered up to and including 10 wines. For the eleventh wine and above, a charge of EUROS 130 (including 10% consumption tax) will be made.
We also offer the entrants the option to pay in US Dollars instead of EUROS. Should this option be selected, the fees payable are: *First 10 wines: US$ 280 for each wine entered. *From 11th wine onwards: US$ 150 for each wine entered. Entries will not be accepted without payment in full.
We have been accepting overseas bank transfer payments based on the Japanese Yen amount as well, however, as there have been discrepancies in the exchange rate calculation we kindly ask all overseas entrants to pay either in Euros or US$ only.
Thank you for your understanding.
For example if you enter 12 wines:
10 x 250 Euros = 2,500 Euros
2 x 130 Euros = 260 Euros
TOTAL 2,760 Euros
* Please also note that for the credit card payment 3.9% of transaction fee will be added to the total amount.
If you make your payment by bank transfer, please include your entry number in the details if possible . This entry number will be emailed to you after submitting the entry form.
* Your Entry Number will be sent to you by JWC office within 3-5 business days after the registration. If you do not receive it after the period please contact us at info@japanwinechallenge.com.
Please note that entry fees cannot be refunded.
3.NUMBER OF BOTTLES TO SUBMIT PER ENTRY
Wine with Screw Cap: Four (4) x 750ml/720ml bottles or equivalent (e.g. 8 x 375ml) must be submitted for every entry.
Wine with Cork Closure: Six (6) x 750ml/720ml bottles or equivalent (e.g. 12 x 375ml) must be submitted for every entry.
This is to ensure sufficient for re-tastings / Trophy tastings / photographs and for the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner.
4.IF THE SAME WINE IS ENTERED MORE THAN ONCE
When the same wine is submitted by more than one company, all entrants names will be featured equally in the report of the tasting. Fees for multiple entries cannot be refunded.
5.HOW MANY WINES WILL RECEIVE MEDALS?
Of the over 1,200 wines entered in 2024, 13 wines were awarded coveted Trophy Awards, 5.2% received Gold medals, and overall nearest 60% of the wines won a medal.
6.SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY FORM AND WINE FORM
Please submit your Entry Form and Wine Form by Wednesday 10th September.
If you wish to submit the Entry Form by post please send it to the following address (if you submit it online, or send your Entry Forms by Email, no original documents need to be sent by post):
Wine Form can be downloaded from here:
Japan Wine Challenge
TME Bldg. 1-9-10 Higashi-nihonbashi, Chuo-ku,
Tokyo, 103-0004 Japan
Japanese retail price of wines per bottle MUST be included on the Wine Form (for wines not yet available in Japan please list your FOB export price and retail price in your home market).
- After your entry has been accepted, you will receive an e-mail with your Entry Number and Outer Carton Label specific to your entry to attach to the outer cartons. This label must be attached to your shipping boxes. To view the sample, click here.
7.SENDING YOUR WINES
- Please send wine samples via courier to arrive between Thursday 1st May to Wednesday 17th September at our warehouse:
If you with you send your samples before 1st May please send to our office and be sure to inform us. Also, if the ETA of your wines would be later than 17th September, please contact us at info@japanwinechallenge.com.
Mitsubishi Logistics Corporation Tokyo Branch OHI Office
Japan Wine Challenge 2025
4-3-10-B4F Tokai, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-0001 JAPAN
Tel. +81.3.5825.9177
If the samples might arrive later than above date please contact us at info@japanwinechallenge.com.
- Please kindly put the Outer Carton Label on the outside of all wine boxes.
- If you have a local distributor / agent, you may wish to arrange with them to deliver the wines ex-Japan stock (remember to complete the form stating you have done this) by forwarding your entry code label for outer cartons or asking your agent to get in contact with the Japan Wine Challenge.
- Please also mark on each case of wine “Samples – No commercial value”.
All duty, carriage, clearance, storage charges and taxes payable on wines must be pre-paid for by the Submitter. Failure to pay these duties will result in your wines not being entered. Please complete the courier documentation carefully, remembering to tick the appropriate duty and prepaid freight charges.
Entrants are entirely responsible for the arrival of their wines in time for the Challenge. The organizers can take no responsibility for this. We regret that late arrivals will not be accepted and neither credits nor refunds will be issued if the forms or wines fail to arrive on time.
*We ask you TRY NOT TO USE CHRONOPOST for wine delivery because the Liquor Tax will be imposed at Japan Customs and it will result in VERY late arrival of your wine samples. However, if you still were to use Chronopost please contact us BEFORE shipping out and please:
1) make sure to agree the DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) term
2) let us know the shipping details at info@japanwinechallenge.com
3) send only 4 bottles per entry.
Thank you.
8.CUSTOMS FORMS/SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
Please tick/insert the following on all courier company documentation:
FREE OF CHARGE/DDP + VAT
FREE DOMICILE
9.USE OF THE JAPAN WINE CHALLENGE LOGO
Stickers of the Japan Wine Challenge logo, medals and trophies are available to Award winners. The JWC logo remains the property of the Japan Wine Challenge and any unauthorized reproduction or alteration of the Japan Wine Challenge logo, trophies and medals is strictly prohibited.
Should any trophy or medal be used for promotional purposes (e.g. on printed material or on TV/radio advertising), the award must be attributed to the Japan Wine Challenge. In case of any doubts/questions please contact the Japan Wine Challenge.
10.RESULTS
Results will be posted on our website on Friday 24th October, and will also be announced at our Trophy Awards Ceremony in February 2026.
Digital certificates and receipt of your payment will be sent by email. Hard-copy certificates will be sent on request: info@japanwinechallenge.com
11.MEDAL STICKERS
Order for medal stickers can be placed on “Order Medal Stickers” page.
Digital logo can be downloaded free of charge on “Results” page.
12.BEST VALUE WINES
All wines will be eligible for Best Value Awards. As mentioned in paragraph 6 above, the actual Japan retail selling price (or for wines not yet available in Japan the FOB export price and home market retail price) for each wine must be shown in the Wine Form.
13.BIODYNAMIC/ORGANIC WINES
If any wine entered qualifies as being Biodynamic or Organic, please tick the box in the entry form. This is to ensure eligibility for consideration for the Trophy for Best Biodynamic/Organic Wine.
