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Water Tasting Judge
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
The American Festivals Project was in West Virginia for the 2009 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting, an event held during the town's Winter Festival of the Waters. Each year local celebrities judge water—municipal, bottled, and purified—from around the world, while the public watches the rounds and samples the entries.
Here, a judge closely inspects a glass before tasting. As with wine, judges consider appearance, aroma, taste, mouth feel, and aftertaste.
Read more about the 2009 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting on the American Festivals Project blog.
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Judging Aroma
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
A judge searches for an aroma before tasting an entry. The judging panel is made up of prominent members of the community, not water experts.
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Scoring Water
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
Judy Webb considers the entries as she marks her scoring sheet. The water-tasting competition hosted by the spa town of Berkeley Springs is billed as the largest in the world.
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Water Comparison
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
A judge compares two glasses of water held up to the light during the preliminary round of the 2009 International Water Tasting.
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Water Tasting Judge
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
A judge samples an entry during the preliminary day of judging. The competition takes place over three days.
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Competition Samples
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
Each judge samples a large selection of entries. More than a hundred varieties compete for gold medals in their categories.
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Design Award
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
Bottled waters are considered for the People’s Choice for Package Design award. Antipodes Water, from Whakatane, New Zealand, won the bronze medal in 2009.
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Careful Tasting
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
In addition to the tasting rounds, competition events may include a water-related seminar, reception, and tours of Berkeley Springs.
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International Bottled Water
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
Samples of some of the entries are stacked before a judges’ table. Awards are given for both still and sparkling bottled water.
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Water Scoring Sheet
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
An official scoring sheet is marked with a judge’s results. Judges from year to year might include the local mayor or a local news broadcaster.
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Numbered Entries
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
In 2009, winning entries came from all over the United States, as well as from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Ecuador, and New Zealand
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Judges’ Table
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
Before they begin, judges are taken through the basics of water tasting, which can be challenging due to the lack of ingredients.
More American Festivals
American Festivals Project Videos
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