The award-winning 20th annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting welcomes bottled and municipal waters from around the world on Saturday, February 27. Entries come from all over the United States and from as far away as New Zealand, Iceland and Romania.Held at The Country Inn in this historic spa town in West Virginia, it is the largest and longest running water tasting competition in the world. Tasting of municipal waters, followed by purified drinking water, begins at 2:30pm. Bottled waters, both still and sparkling, are tasted at 6:30pm. Winners in all categories are announced at a public awards reception at 8pm.
A distinguished panel of media judges determine the official winners, but there is a role for the public. All day Saturday, they taste water along with the judges. Most importantly, the public votes for the People's Choice award for best packaging.
Watermaster Arthur von Wiesenberger, noted expert and author from Santa Barbara, CA, trains the media judges and directs the challenge of evaluating a product where tastelessness is the most sought after quality. He has dubbed this the "granddaddy of water tastings".
The water tasting weekend begins on Thursday, February 25, with preliminary tastings at The Country Inn. Special events and activities continue everywhere in Morgan County through Sunday, February 28.
The Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting is the centerpiece of the award winning Winter Festival of the Waters, featuring three months of special activities, sales, and accommodation packages.
For more information about top events in West Virginia, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in West Virginia at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-west-virginia.html
Or, take a look at the official web site for Berkeley Springs at www.berkeleysprings.com