Japan Organic Wine Challenge

-Celebrating Sustainable Excellence at the 28th Japan Wine Challenge-

Join us in honouring the finest organic wines from around the world!

Our Expert Panel of Judges: A Fusion of Experience and Passion

At the Japan Organic Wine Challenge, we are proud to present a distinguished panel of judges who are experts in the world of wine. Each judge brings years of experience in viticulture, wine-making, and sustainability, ensuring every bottle is evaluated with a refined, knowledgeable eye. Our panel includes sommeliers, wine critics, renowned producers, and environmental advocates, all united by a passion for exceptional organic wines and a commitment to celebrating sustainable practices. Their insights and expertise are crucial in highlighting the very best organic wines the world has to offer.

Categories

Rules of Entry

In Conjunction with the 28th Japan Wine Challenge

1. Eligibility
1.1 Wine Categories

Wines eligible for submission must fall under the following categories:
Still red, white, or rosé
Sparkling wines
Orange wines
Pet-Nat
Fortified wines
Sweet wines

1.2 Certification Requirements
To enter the Japan Organic Wine Challenge, wines must be certified organic or biodynamic, or meet recognized sustainable viticulture and winemaking standards. All entries must provide valid documentation.
 
a) Organic Wines
Certification must be issued by a recognized certifying body (e.g., EU Organic, USDA Organic, JAS Organic (Japan), Ecocert, Australian Certified Organic, etc.).
Both viticulture and winemaking must comply with organic standards.
No synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers.
Limited use of sulfites (as per certifier’s limits).
 
b) Biodynamic Wines
Certification from Demeter, Biodyvin, or an equivalent authority.
Compliance with biodynamic farming principles, including use of preparations and alignment with lunar cycles.
Fermentation and bottling practices must follow biodynamic standards.
 
c) Sustainable Wines
Certification from credible sustainability programs such as:
Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ)
California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA)
Certified Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
Japan’s own Sustainable Agriculture Program (if applicable)
Must demonstrate environmentally responsible farming practices and energy/waste reduction in winemaking.
Sulfite levels must not exceed legal standards and should be declared.
 
Note: Natural wines may be accepted, but must provide documentation of farming and winemaking practices and are judged under the Organic category, not as a separate classification.

* 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 labelled 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 can be in various packaging formats including bottles, cans, tetra packs, Bag-in-Box, and in various sizes (375ml/500ml/725ml/750ml/1,000ml etc.)
* 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.

* Please tick the box in the Wine Form. This is to ensure eligibility to enter the Japan Organic Wine Challenge.

Number of Bottles to Submit per Entry

Four (4) x 750ml/720ml bottles or equivalent (e.g. 8 x 375ml) must be submitted for every entry.

Please send wine samples via courier to arrive by Wednesday 17th September  at our warehouse:
​
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
​

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.

CUSTOMS FORMS/SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
Please tick/insert the following on all courier company documentation:
FREE OF CHARGE/DDP + VAT
FREE DOMICILE10.RESULTS

Award Medal Data

Data for medal logo, website banners, and promotional templates can be downloaded free of charge on “Download Centre” page.

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