The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. This standard is achieved through a rigorous two-stage judging process of professional blind tasting and detailed technical (chemical and microbiological) analysis that takes place at The Competition’s headquarters in Surrey, UK. To ensure perfect conditions, the premises include temperature-controlled cellars, a fully equipped independent laboratory for technical analysis, and two dedicated tasting rooms. In 2005 The Competition received approximately 5,000 entries from over 50 countries.