The Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), through its School of Enology and Gastronomy, has officially announced the 2024 edition of the Mexico International Wine Competition (MIWC). The event will take place on October 29 and 30, 2024, at the Department of Informatics and Libraries on the UABC Ensenada campus.
The MIWC is set to bring together top-tier wines from around the world, where they will be evaluated by a specialized jury. The competition aims to recognize excellence in winemaking according to international oenological standards, in a setting that promotes transparency, academia, and institutional integrity.
Alejandro Jiménez Hernández, the director of the School of Enology and Gastronomy, highlighted the event’s long-standing history. Initially organized by Baja California’s winemaking sector, the competition has been under UABC’s management for 17 years. The MIWC holds the distinction of being the first international wine competition in Mexico backed by an educational institution and meets the standards of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). Faculty and students from various university programs actively participate in the event, reflecting its academic roots.
Jiménez Hernández emphasized the expertise of the judges, who come with extensive national and international experience in the wine industry. This guarantees that the evaluation process will be both serious and objective.
UABC has also pioneered the use of a computerized wine evaluation system, developed in-house. This system ensures the results are processed and announced quickly, demonstrating the university’s commitment to transparency.
Griselda López González, the competition’s technical coordinator, provided details about the registration process, which is open to all winemaking companies interested in participating. Entries must meet specific technical requirements, such as chemical analysis, and wines will be judged in categories like white, red, rosé, sparkling, and sweet wines. López González also mentioned that the registration deadline is September 27, 2024, with entry fees varying depending on the number of samples submitted by each winery.
Winning labels in each category can earn distinctions such as Grand Gold, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and the prestigious Mexico Medal, awarded to the highest-scoring wine in its category. The total number of medals awarded cannot exceed 30% of the total entries, ensuring a selective recognition process. López González added that labels previously awarded in past editions—those with the same name, varietal, or vintage—are excluded from competing again.
UABC encourages regional, national, and international winemaking companies to take part in the MIWC. The competition not only recognizes excellence in wine production but also fosters collaboration and exchange within the industry.
For more information on registration and the competition’s guidelines, visit the official Mexico International Wine Competition website: https://concursodelvino.ens.uabc.mx.
