Hey Y’all,
It’s The Waterlady here — and wow, what an incredible experience we just had at the Fine Waters Summit 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia!
Over the course of three amazing days, six certified water sommeliers (myself included!) came together to blind taste over 100 of the world’s finest waters. It was a powerful reminder that water is not just water — every source, every mineral profile, and every bubble tells a different story. And believe me, judging was no easy feat. We evaluated each water based on taste, mouthfeel, minerality, balance, and overall experience, without knowing where it came from or who bottled it. It was pure — and purely magical.
After careful tasting and scoring, here are the 2025 Taste Award Winners:
STILL Waters
Super Low Minerality
- Gold: Wossa (Austria)
- Silver: Lofoten Arctic Water (Norway)
- Silver: Norway Fyresdal (Norway)
- Bronze: Blue Spring (USA)
Low Minerality
- Gold: Antipodes (New Zealand)
- Gold: La Sasse (France)
- Silver: Fromin (Czech Republic)
- Bronze: 1915 (South Korea)
- Bronze: Neblina H2O (Colombia)
- Bronze: Driftless Fine Water (USA)
Medium Minerality
- Gold: Pure One (New Zealand)
- Silver: Miocen (Vietnam)
- Silver: Haage (Estonia)
- Bronze: Gaisberg (Austria)
High Minerality
- Gold: Marzia (Italy)
- Silver: Three Bays (Australia)
- Bronze: Boonmai (Bainianmai) (China)
Very High Minerality
- Gold: Socosani (Peru)
- Silver: Crazy Water #4 (USA)
Curated Category
- Gold: Vohena Deep Sea Water (South Korea)
SPARKLING Waters
Super Low Minerality
- Gold: Pure Mist (Australia)
- Silver: Northern Lights (Norway)
- Bronze: Wossa (Austria)
Low Minerality
- Gold: Jaure (Sweden)
- Silver: Altitude (Canada)
- Silver: Antipodes (New Zealand)
- Silver: Wilderness Mountains (USA)
- Bronze: ZAKU (Latvia)
- Bronze: Bambito (Panama)
Medium Minerality
- Gold: Balbin (Czech Republic)
- Silver: Haage (Estonia)
- Bronze: Carpatina (Romania)
- Bronze: Gaisberg (Austria)
High Minerality
- Gold: Tehuacan (Mexico)
- Silver: Three Bays (Australia)
- Bronze: b’ui (Mexico)
Very High Minerality
- Gold: Socosani (Peru)
Naturally Carbonated (Low to High Minerality)
- Gold: Güitig (Ecuador)
- Silver: Orezza (France)
Naturally Carbonated (Very High Minerality)
- Gold: Vichy Catalan (Spain)
- Silver: ROI (Slovenia)
Judging Process: True Blind Tasting Excellence
Each water was poured anonymously in identical glasses.
No labels. No hints. No bias.
The sommeliers were tasked with carefully tasting, scoring, and analyzing each sample for:
- Aroma (yes, water has a nose!)
- First impression on the palate
- Texture and mouthfeel (smooth? creamy? crisp?)
- Minerality balance (how much total dissolved solids and how they feel)
- Aftertaste and overall harmony
It was a battle of elegance and character, and let’s just say: there are no boring waters at the Fine Waters Summit!
The sheer diversity we experienced — from snowmelt delicacy to volcanic richness to ancient aquifers naturally sparkling on their own — shows the artistry bottled within every premium water.
Final Thoughts: A Celebration of Craft and Nature
We are so proud to see waters from all over the world — from Ecuador to Austria to New Zealand — celebrated for their uniqueness and purity. And we’re extra thrilled to see some of the brands we carry at SalaciousDrinks.com (like Three Bays and Vichy Catalan) taking home big wins!
Water tasting is a true celebration of terroir — just like wine, just like coffee.
And we love helping you experience these beautiful waters one bottle at a time.
Congratulations to all the 2025 winners — you remind us that even the simplest things, like water, can be extraordinary when we take the time to appreciate them.
Until next time, stay salaciously hydrated,
– The Waterlady
(Ashley from Salacious Drinks)