Japan Wine Challenge
Fuji Cider Challenge
Japan Spirits Competition
The Japan Wine Challenge was set up in 1997 as an independent wine competition, showing the wine world that Japan is a vibrant wine market to be taken seriously. Sincethis time we have grown in scale and scope to the point where we are the oldest and most respected and prestigious wine competition in Asia.
With the appointment of Steven Spurrier as Chairman from 2001 to 2011 a solid partnership developed with the Institute of Masters of Wine, the Japan Wine Challenge has also created a platform for developing local Japanese wine tasters into serious wine judges.
We are honoured to have continued Chairmanship of Chris Martin MW who is the Director of Education at Wine Scholar Guild, and Katsuyuki Tanaka who is the most influential and the best taster in Japan, and again looking forward to some outstanding wines and results.
Our continued association with the Institute of Masters of Wine, the San Francisco International Wine Competition and our team of expert judges (both international and local) ensures that all wines are given the optimum evaluation by a truly international and professional judging panel.
Meet Our Judging Panel
The Japan Wine Challenge boasts a prestigious judging panel consisting of the top figures in the wine world, both from Japan and internationally.
Christopher Martin MW
Co-Chairman
After working several years as the Head of Educator Development at WSET, Chris has joined the Wine Scholar Guild as Director of Education. In February 2024, he finished the MW!
Katsuyuki Tanaka
Co-Chairman
Tanaka-san has been for many years acknowledged as Japan’s leading wine writer and wine taster. Wine has been his lifelong interest. Tanaka-san and his palate are respected by his peers internationally.
Andrew Caillard MW
Founder of the “Langton’s Fine Wine Classification of Australian Wine” (one of the key references for Australian premium wine) and Wine Principal of the Woolworths Group in Australia (the largest wine retailer in Australia and one of the most influential internationally), Andrew is internationally respected as a wine writer/educator and auctioneer. He is also a talented artist.
Liz Wheadon
A wine industry professional with many years of experience, Liz is a General Manager for Glengarry Wines, having judged for leading wine competitions around the world. She has also a career in Gymsports in New Zealand.
Jane Cooper
Jane has extensive wine judging experience in New Zealand over 20+ years and currently is Chair of Judges at the National Wine Awards of Aotearoa New Zealand. In March 2024 she was named in the ‘Aotearoa New Zealand’s Top 50 Most Influential and Inspiring Women in Food and Drink 2024’.
Matthew Deller MW
Matthew is the CEO for Wirra Wirra and Ashton Hills. Matt passed the Master of Wine exams in 2016, is now a member of the Governance Committee for the Institute of Masters of Wine and is on the program committee for the MW Symposium in Adelaide 2026. He judges various international wine competitions around the globe.
Brendan Heath
Brendan has been making a diverse range of wines for 25+ years in Australia. He studied winemaking and viticulture at Charles Sturt University. He routinely gives educational tutorials to university wine and agriculture students as well as mentoring/consulting to multiple businesses. He also regularly judges throughout Australia, Europe and Asia.
Eduardo Dingler
Eduardo is the host of ‘Sake Drinker and Friends Show’ a monthly show
dedicated to Sake and the culture that it represents.
John Salvi MW
John is the president of the Wine and Spirit Association of Great Britain. He has been in the Wine Trade for 45 years, and is the representative for Great Britain at the International Union of Oenologists. He is an active professional taster, wine consultant, and wine writer.
Rowald Hepp
Rowald is the Managing Director and winemaker of Schloss Vollrads, one of the top German wine estates. He is dedicated to producing the highest possiblelevels of wine excellence and is deeply committed tothe Asian market. He has been a regular Japan WineChallenge judge and supporter for many years.
Accredited Judges
Ai Miyashita
宮下愛
Akihiro Horino
堀野晃弘
Akihiro Kurimoto
栗本明博
Charles Lawrence Rials
Charles Lawrence Rials
Fumiko Miyagawa
宮川文子
Hiroko Kambara
神原浩子
Hiroko Yamamura
山村博子
Itsuki Yoshino
吉野樹
Judges’ Application Form for JWC 2025
– Application Opens: TBA –
Please submit the form to apply for the JWC 2025 judging by Friday 11th July.
Schedule
Saturday 20 September: Compulsory Seminar for all judges (including Accredited Judges)
Sunday 21 September: JWC Day 1
Monday 22 September: JWC Day 2
Tuesday 23 September: Trophy Tasting
＊Due to the sensitive nature of the event, the schedule is subject to change or cancellation at short notice.
We will do our best to avoid such changes, but before you apply please understand these possibilities.
Seeking Judges
Seeking Judges
The Japan Wine Challenge, which celebrates its 28th year in 2025, is looking for new judges.
We are committed to improving the quality of judging according to international standards and to further brushing up the level of each judge.
Eligibility
Certified Sommelier
WSET Diploma or above
Those with experience in wine judging abroad
Experienced wine educator
*Please note that those who have participated other wine competitions in Japan (excluding the Yamanashi Japan Wine Competition) will not be accepted.
Also, in case of a large number of applications, preference will be given to those working in the wine industry.
Application
Please send your CV to info@japanwinechallenge.com by Friday 27th June 2025.
Those who have in the past submitted your CV do not need to resend.
Thank you.
