We are excited to share that we will be entering the FineWaters International Water Tasting Competition at the 2026 Fine Water Summit in Montreal, Canada, on 15 May 2026. This prestigious event, known as the TASTE & DESIGN AWARDS, is one of the highlights of the global fine water calendar, and we are proud to once again represent Australia on this international stage.
Heading back to the FineWaters stage
We have a long and cherished relationship with the FineWaters community and its annual TASTE & DESIGN AWARDS. In recent years we have travelled from the Snowy Mountains to world‑class culinary and cultural destinations, including Spain, to have our water evaluated by expert water sommeliers and industry leaders.
These competitions bring together many of the world’s leading premium waters, all assessed under strict professional standards developed by FineWaters and the Fine Water Society. For us, it is both an honour and a challenge: an honour to be included among such distinguished waters and a challenge to continually refine what we do and how we share it with the world.
Our proud awards pedigree
Entering Montreal in 2026 is the next chapter in a story that already includes some truly exciting milestones for us. Over the years, our still and lightly sparkling waters have received multiple gold medals at FineWaters competitions around the world, including events in Europe and Asia. These awards have recognised Beloka Water in categories such as Best Still Water (Medium Minerality) and Best Sparkling Water (Medium Minerality), confirming that our water can stand confidently alongside the very best from across the globe.
FineWaters has also rated our water as “Superior”, a designation reserved for waters of exceptional character, purity and balance. Every time we receive this kind of recognition, it reinforces what we taste at the source every day: that our spring in the Snowy Mountains is something truly special and worth sharing far beyond Australia’s borders.
What makes Beloka Water special
Our journey to Montreal begins, as it always does, at our source in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. Our water is drawn from an ancient spring on the edge of the unspoilt Kosciuszko National Park, in a landscape that remains largely untouched and protected. As the water moves through ancient geological strata, it picks up a distinctive, naturally balanced mineral profile that gives Beloka Water its clean taste and medium minerality.
We bottle our water at the source to preserve its natural character, intervening only to add gentle carbonation to our lightly sparkling varieties. The result is a crisp, pure and refreshing water with a subtle flavour and silky mouthfeel that pairs beautifully with fine food and wine, or simply shines on its own in a glass. We are deeply committed to sustainability as well, using recycled glass and sourcing our packaging materials within Australia wherever possible, because we believe a premium water must also reflect care for its environment.
Inside the FineWaters TASTE & DESIGN AWARDS
The FineWaters TASTE & DESIGN AWARDS in Montreal will bring together an experienced panel of international water sommeliers who will assess entries through a blind tasting process. The competition is built on the belief that water is not just water, but a product of terroir, with its own sense of place, character and story, much like wine. Still waters are judged by categories based on their minerality (total dissolved solids), while sparkling waters are evaluated with careful attention to carbonation, texture and mouthfeel.
Each water is served in dedicated premium water stemware at room temperature, and sparkling waters are opened shortly before tasting to ensure freshness and consistency. Judges award points for both taste and design, and in each category only a select few brands receive gold, silver or bronze recognition. Only natural, unprocessed waters that meet the Fine Water Society’s definition may enter, which makes participation alone a meaningful recognition of quality.
The 2026 Fine Water Summit in Montreal
Montreal is set to host the 2026 Fine Water Summit along with the TASTE & DESIGN AWARDS from 15 to 17 May 2026, right as spring begins to unfold in the city. The organisers have chosen a venue in the historic Old Town, within easy walking distance of many of Montreal’s attractions, giving attendees an inspiring and intimate environment in which to explore the future of fine water. Supported locally by design‑focused partners who specialise in premium beverage spaces, the summit promises to be as visually engaging as it is intellectually stimulating.
Under the theme “The Future of Fine Water”, the summit will look beyond what is in the bottle to explore where the category is heading next. Topics are expected to range from sustainability and design to hospitality, health and the evolving role of water sommeliers in restaurants and hotels worldwide. For us, it is an ideal setting to share our own story, learn from peers and take part in conversations that are shaping how people think about and experience fine water.
Why Montreal matters to us
Competing in Montreal is about more than medals; it is about connection, learning and representation. Every FineWaters event gives us the opportunity to meet fellow producers, sommeliers, chefs and hospitality professionals who care deeply about water and its place on the table. These conversations help us understand how Beloka Water is perceived internationally and how we can better support our partners in restaurants, hotels and retailers at home and abroad.
By stepping into an international arena with such a strong focus on terroir and authenticity, we also bring a piece of Australia’s alpine landscape to a global audience. When our water is poured in a tasting glass in Montreal, we know that the story of our Snowy Mountains spring, our commitment to sustainability and our family‑owned values are present in every sip. That sense of place is exactly what the fine water category celebrates, and we are proud that Beloka Water has a distinctive voice in that conversation.
Our preparation for the competition
As we look ahead to May 2026, our team is focused on both the practical and the experiential aspects of the competition. On the practical side, we are working closely with organisers to ensure our entries comply with all technical and shipping requirements so that our bottles arrive in perfect condition for the tasting. We are carefully planning our selection of still and sparkling waters for submission, taking into account minerality, vintage and presentation in line with the competition categories.
On the experiential side, we are preparing to share our story in person with attendees at the summit, from our source in the Snowy Mountains to our bottling and sustainability practices in New South Wales. We see the summit as an opportunity to listen as much as we speak, gaining insight into how water is being presented on menus, in cellars and in dedicated water lists around the world. Every insight we gain will help us better serve our customers and partners who choose Beloka Water for its quality and provenance.
An invitation to join us on the journey
We would not be making this journey to Montreal without the continued support of our customers, hospitality partners and community here in Australia. Every time you choose Beloka Water at home, in a restaurant or at an event, you are helping us bring the taste of our Snowy Mountains spring to the world. As we prepare for the 2026 FineWaters TASTE & DESIGN AWARDS, we will share updates and behind‑the‑scenes moments so that you can follow along with us.
We invite you to mark 15 May 2026 in your calendar and join us in spirit as our bottles are opened in Montreal and placed before the international jury. Whether you are discovering Beloka Water for the first time or have been with us since our earliest awards, we are grateful to have you as part of our story and we look forward to sharing the next chapter with you.