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Essay Competition Announcement



Essay Competition

Open to Master of Wine Students and holders of the Advanced Certificate of the Court of Master Sommeliers based in Europe.


Topic:
Should Greek wine producers prioritize on-trade or off-trade listings in your local market?
Which strategic tools would you use for the sector you have chosen?

The Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy (TIWC) announces an international essay competition open to advanced wine professionals, aimed at stimulating critical thinking and strategic insight into the positioning of Greek wines in contemporary markets. Through this initiative, TIWC seeks to encourage informed dialogue and contribute meaningfully to the global wine community’s understanding of Greek wine.

The Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy (TIWC) is one of Southeast Europe’s leading international wine and spirits competitions, bringing together top wine professionals to evaluate, promote, and elevate wines and spirits of quality and origin.

Objective:
This essay competition invites Master of Wine students and holders of the Advanced Certificate of the Court of Master Sommeliers based in Europe to explore practical strategies for promoting Greek wines in their local markets. The aim is to encourage analytical thinking, support original ideas, and foster a comprehensive examination of this topic, contributing valuable insights to the wine industry's knowledge base.

Essay Requirements:

- Length: 1500 words (±15%)

- Format: Your name should appear in the file title but not in the body of the essay.
  Essays should be typed and submitted in PDF format, together with the final word count. Appendices, footnotes and references are excluded from the word count.

- Content: Essays should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the topic, incorporating current data, relevant case studies, and evidence-based arguments. Creative approaches that showcase in-depth analysis and practical insight into the wine industry are encouraged.

Submission Guidelines:

 - Deadline: January 15, 2026

- Where to Submit: Please submit your essays to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

- Additional Information: Please include your full name, programme details (Master of Wine Student or Holder of the Advanced Certificate of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Europe-based) and contact information.

Evaluation Criteria:
Submissions will be evaluated based on originality, depth of research, clarity of argument, and relevance to the present and future of the wine industry. Essays will be assessed by a panel of esteemed professionals in viticulture, enology, and wine education.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Artificial Intelligence detector software will be used to assess the potential contribution of AI tools in these essays. All entries that yield positive results will be disqualified. DO NOT use AI even for correcting grammar – this is not an English exam and we understand that many participants will not be native speakers. All we want if your genuine thoughts…

Award:

The winning essay will receive:

• An invitation to participate in the Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy 2026, held in Thessaloniki from February 25 to 27, 2026, including airfare, hotel accommodation, lunches and dinners costs. You must be available to travel to Thessaloniki on Feb 24.

• Official announcement of the winner on www.tiwc.gr on January 22, 2026.

We look forward to reading your original insights and contributions to the field!

Participate in the COmpetition
Results & Awards
Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy

Contact

17b Politexniou str., 54626, Thessaloniki, Greece
tel: +302310281617
email: info@tiwc.gr
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