What sets the International Wine Challenge apart from other competitions is the number of times wines are tasted to earn their awards. Medal-winning wines must have been tasted at least three times, once in the first week of tasting, again in the second week to confirm the level of medal to be awarded and then again by at least one of the five Co-Chairmen. At every stage, if a Co-Chairman wishes to change a wine's score, he has to seek agreement from one of his colleagues, meaning that a wine may be tasted four times before its award is established.

Five chairmen, each of them leaders in their field, were at the helm for this year's IWC: Tim Atkin MW, Oz Clarke, Charles Metcalfe, Sam Harrop MW, Derek Smedley MW. For 2011 they welcomed onboard their International Guest Co-Chairman Debra Meiburg MW.

English wines show continued good form: 10 medals in 2005, 16 medals in 2006, 21 in 2007, 22 in 2008, 24 in 2009, 20 medals in 2010 and this year the highest ever with 31.

Two outstanding results for England emerged this year:  Denbies Wine Estate scooped the only Gold Medal for a still rosé in the whole competition (over 350 entries) and Chapel Down won a Gold medal for their Vintage Reserve Rose NV. Both were shown to the visiting trade at the official release of the results at the London International Wine & Spirits Trade Fair.

Further information on the competition plus a full list of results is available on the International Wine Challenge website