IWC hits the TV screens

Published: 24 February, 2009

Behind the scenes of the world's leading wine competition will be the subject of a programme in a new BBC Four series.

International Wine Challenge will feature in the series 'Wine' in a program to be aired on Monday, March 2.

Nick Angel, the film's director at Oxford Film and Television, the production company behind 'Wine', says: "We were delighted that the International Wine Challenge (IWC) agreed to let us follow the judging process - not only are the judges themselves highly entertaining characters, the competition demonstrates the sheer scale of the international wine trade.

"With nearly ten thousand entries, you can see what wine producers from all over the world are up against."

The programme - currently being widely publicised - started on the February 16 and sets out to explore the world of wine. In the final episode on March 2 viewers will see IWC Co-Chairmen Tim Atkin MW, Charles Metcalfe and Derek Smedley MW, judge the wine produced by two unlikely South African wine makers at the end of their quest to produce wines worthy of an IWC accolade.

Andrew Reed, Managing Director of of the drinks division at William Reed Business Media, says: "We have a process that takes longer, needs more people and costs more, but comes up with results that have been more carefully considered. We are proud of our rigorous judging process where each wine is tasted at least three times before it wins its award, making it the world's most meticulously-judged wine competition. We were delighted to assist Oxford Film and Television in the making of 'Wine', to showcase the true value and importance of our competition."

The final call for entries for the 2009 IWC has just gone out. This year's judging will take place in mid April and the results will be announced at the London International Wine Fair in May. For full details about the Challenge and rules of entry visit the IWC's website www.internationalwinechallenge.com for more information.

Oxford Film and Television's three-part documentary 'Wine' commences on Monday 16 February 9pm on BBC Four, with the IWC featuring in the March 2 episode.

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