The Next Gen International Wine Awards is a first-of-its-kind competition created to help wineries understand, reach, and connect with the next generation of wine drinkers.

While most traditional competitions are judged by long-established industry professionals, this program is evaluated exclusively by wine experts under 39 — the winemakers, sommeliers, buyers, writers, and influencers who are actively shaping what younger consumers drink today and what they’ll be drinking tomorrow.

These rising industry leaders offer a fresh perspective on quality, authenticity, and value. They bring lived experience from the restaurants, tasting rooms, retail floors, and digital platforms where the next generation discovers wine. Their voices represent not just where the industry is headed — but where the modern consumer already is.