The Aurora International Taste Challenge will be hosted in South Africa this year, and will have some of the top sommeliers and food professionals judging drinks from around the world.
Producers of superior products will be granted Gold and Double Gold awards, to reward excellent taste. Besides the normal technical criteria used during judging, wow factor and the reading on the judge’s hedonic scale of enjoyment will be taken into account.
Here is a list of the broad categories:
Non alcoholic drinks
Alcoholic drinks
Stickers for gold and double gold awards will also be available for purchase for the winners. A one-time print run will be done, and extra stickers will be available on a first come, first served basis. You do not have to order stickers.
The Aurora International Taste Challenge was formed to recognise superior food products and guide consumers on their path to purchasing the best products with confidence. This year, besides alcoholic drinks, bottled water in every form, from still to sparkling to flavoured as well as ready to drink products including beer and cider will be judged in South Africa by sommeliers and other food industry professionals. The goal is to identify and award the best-tasting products available to consumers.
While many consumers are brand-loyal, most would choose another product if they had access to fair product ratings. We are proud to be setting new quality standards in the food and beverage industry.
We live in a world where drinks are almost considered generic. An award will instantly set you apart.
Early bird entry fee R990 excluding VAT (approximately USD76 or EUR66) from 16 March until 7 June 2021
Early bird entry price ends, and the regular entry fee of R1300 excluding VAT (approximately USD96 or EUR84) applies from 8 June to 2 August 2021
Late entry fee of R1440 excluding VAT (approximately USD115 or EUR101) applies from 4 August to final close on 10 August 2021
Final entries close
Final delivery of samples to Stellenbosch, South Africa
Stickers will be available to the winners at R330 excluding VAT per 1000. There will be only one print run, and extra stickers will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Products will be judged on aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and overall impression using a proprietary scoring system. Products are tasted blind, and scored on their own merit. Judges score the products on their own in silence, without conferring with other judges. The category that the product is entered will place the criteria of judging in context.
The judge’s personal preference is not taken into account.
The award artwork may only be used for the particular brand that was entered. If the company markets the exact same product under different brand names, additional non-exclusive licences will be granted to be used for the additional brands the product is sold at, at a price equal to the original entry fee.
Drinks will be judged by sommeliers, chefs and other food industry professionals who have an intimate knowledge of taste and who will be able to discern superior products.
No royalties are payable.
An electronic certificate will be emailed to winning participants. This will be accompanied by a non-exclusive licence agreement that, after being signed by both parties and dependent on adherence to the stipulations of the agreement, will give the winners a non-exclusive licence to make use of the digital award artwork kit, with various logos and award artwork on their product, in email signatures, digital and in print media for a period of one year from the time the awards are announced. No physical trophies or awards are awarded.
The award artwork may be used on the brand’s product that was awarded, and have a non-exclusive licence agreement signed by both parties, for a period of one year, subject to the terms of the non-exclusive licence agreement.
Participants may use any courier, but please ensure that samples are delivered to:
The Aurora International Taste Challenge
C/o Celia Gilloway
The Conference Centre
Koelenhof Road
Stellenbosch
South Africa
GPS coordinates: – 33 82’ 66 21 S / 18 79” 55 15 W
Samples must be delivered between 9:00 and 16:00 on August 16th and 17th, 2021.
Person receiving samples: Celia Gilloway
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 082 782 1977
We have partnered with DHL to allow for timely delivery. When making use of DHL, please ensure you send your samples by 16 July 2021, to: DHL Paarl, 35 Zandwyk Park, Old Paarl Road, Paarl, South Africa, for the attention of: “The Aurora International Taste Challenge C/o Marijke Douglas”. You can contact Marijke on [email protected] or phone her on 021 872 4717. DHL will consolidate the samples to make sure they are delivered on time.
Products from outside South Africa need the necessary time to clear customs. Also add the wording: “Samples of no commercial value – for attention The Aurora International Taste Challenge C/o Marijke Douglas”. Contact Marijke on [email protected] or phone her on +27 (0)21 872 4717 for more details.
Products that are sent that have to maintain the cold chain, need to be packed accordingly, and the DHL overnight service can be used.
Late entries might not be accepted.
For additional information contact Sanet van Heerden at [email protected]. This competition is run by the Awards Show (Pty) Ltd.
With regards to DHL and overnight delivery, how certain can I be that the sample receives the necessary urgency to deliver on time?
When making use of DHL, please ensure you send your samples to DHL Paarl, 35 Zandwyk Park, Old Paarl Road, Paarl, South Africa, for the attention of: “The Aurora International Taste Challenge C/o Marijke Douglas”. Make sure you arrange with Marijke on [email protected] or phone her on +27 (0)21 872 4717 to make sure everything will be in order.
Does taxes and custom fees only relate to imports?
Only samples send from outside of South Africa will accrue taxes, clearance and customs fees.
As you have partnered with DHL, do entrants get a reduced-price option?
Because DHL consolidates deliveries, the prices will be reduced. Make sure you arrange with Marijke on [email protected] or phone her on +27 (0)21 872 4717 to get the necessary detail.
Overnight deliveries and deliveries from outside of South Africa will be at normal DHL rates.
Will you have a show for people / companies to attend if they are not entering the competition?
The Aurora International Taste Challenge is not a trade show or public event. Only the organisers and judges are present.
There is also no prize giving ceremony or trade / public tasting afterwards.
