Cathay Global Wine & Spirits Awards Asia Judging Week Concludes

— Ushering in a New Era for Asia’s Most Respected Competition

The Cathay Global Wine & Spirits Awards Asia (GWSAA) successfully concluded its 2025 Judging Week in October, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of one of Asia’s most respected wine and spirits competitions. 44 Asia-based experts joined the inaugural competition founded by Debra Meiburg MW and title sponsored by Cathay. Results will be announced on GWSAA website (gwsaa.com) on 6 November 2025, and Award Ceremony will be hosted at HKTDC’s Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair.

Commitment to “Asia’s Choice, Asia’s Voice”

GWSAA symbolises a commitment to celebrating and elevating Asia’s voice within the global wine and spirits community. Founded by Debra Meiburg MW, who lives in Hong Kong for over 30 years, the eventis grounded in its founding principle of “Asia’s Choice, Asia’s Voice.”

Every stage of judging continues to reflect the perspectives of Asia’s most experienced professionals, ensuring that each accolade resonates with the region’s distinct taste and cultural sensibilities.

Celebrating Regional Expertise and Talent

The 2025 panel featured 44 Asia-based experts, including importers, leading sommeliers, educators, wine communicators, and media professionals. Judges from across the region, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia, together with Hong Kong’s distinguished judging community,represented the diverse professional voices shaping today’s Asian wine, sake, spirits, and beer markets. 

Through rigorous evaluation and thoughtful dialogue, the panel identified the entries that best encapsulated quality, craftsmanship, and authenticity — hallmarks of what resonates with the modern Asian consumers.

Highlighting Wine and Asian Food Pairing

In a distinctive feature that reinforces GWSAA’s role as Asia’s competition for Asia, the 2025 edition introduced Asian Food Pairing Awards. This initiative showcased the integration of wines with authentic Asian cuisines — an approach rarely seen in international competitions.

A dedicated panel, comprising star sommeliers and three newly certified Advanced Sommeliers in Hong Kong, conducted blind tastings of wines alongside six carefully selected Asian dishes. The exercise aimed to identify pairings that best complement the diversity and depth of Asian flavours, from Chinese Roast Goose to Singapore Pepper Prawn.

Cathay Global Wine & Spirits Awards Asia Award Ceremony

Celebrating this year’s trophy winners and the continued rise of Asia’s influence in the global drinks industry, the competition organises the ceremony in conjunction with HKTDC at the annual Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits  Fair:

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, 6 November 2025
Time: 2:15 – 3:15 PM
Venue: The Gallery, Hall 3D, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)

Supporting Events:

• Cathay Global Wine & Spirits Awards Asia Winner Tasting7 November | 12:00 – 1:15 PM | The Gallery, Hall 3D
• Award-Winning Hong Kong Craft Beer by Warren Yu7 November | 6:00 – 7:00 PM | The Bar, Hall 3C

Full Results to be Announced on 6 November

Entire results, including medal and trophy winners will be available on GWSAA’s website: gwsaa.com. 

Welcome all media professionals

Media professionals are welcome to attend the Award Ceremony and the Winner Tasting (12pm, 7 Nov) to experience the award-winning selections firsthand and engage with the experts behind the judging process.

Please register a media badge at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair to access the fair and event.