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.

The Co-Chairmen of the International Wine Challenge are Charles Metcalfe, Derek Smedley MW Sam Harrop MW and Tim Atkin MW. The International Co-Chairman for 2009 is Joshua Green.

English wines show year on year improved form (10 medals in 2005, 16 medals in 2006, 21 in 2007, 22 in 2008 and 24 in 2009). 

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