The wine world celebrates vintages, terroirs, producers. It rarely stops to acknowledge the people who actually get that wine to market, negotiating with importers thousands of miles away, explaining a label to a consumer with the same conviction the winemaker poured into the bottle.
WINExcel Association has set out to change that. Applications opened on 5 June for the first edition of the WINExcel Awards, a prize dedicated to wine sales and communication professionals.
Who can apply
The field is broad: export managers, wine brokers, agents, buyers, sommeliers, wine educators, communicators, wine merchants, hospitality managers, content creators, event planners, e-commerce managers. Anyone who contributes, directly or indirectly, to making sure the right bottle reaches the right glass in the right place.
Applications are open to WINExcel Association members only and close on 31 August 2026. Winners will be presented with their awards in November at the WINExcel Gala.
Why membership is worth it
Entering the Awards requires membership, and joining brings considerably more than a badge: monthly webinars with export and negotiation specialists, masterclasses, access to a database of over 7,000 importers, B2B events, mentoring and personalised consultancy. An association I follow with interest, built around a straightforward idea: in wine, as elsewhere, you achieve more by working within a network of people who share the same goals. It was founded by Mihaela Cojocaru DipWSET, who developed the WINExcel method from her background in export training.
The prize
The WINExcel Awards carry no cash reward: winners receive a certificate and a commemorative plaque. The real value lies elsewhere: visibility, professional recognition, and access to an international network. In a sector where the track record of the person doing the selling rarely features in the success stories of the companies they represent, a nomination alone can make a genuine difference.
Award categories span the principal dimensions of wine sales: expansion into new markets, building commercial networks, and excellence in training and communication.
If you work in wine (in the cellar, in the field, behind a screen or in front of an audience), and have not yet come across WINExcel Association, now is a good moment to do so.
Applications are open until 31 August 2026: full details at winexcel.net/awards.