What the Fine Waters Taste Awards Actually Measure — And Why It Matters
When you see a gold award badge on a bottle of water, it's easy to wonder: what exactly are they judging? Water is water, right?
Not quite. The Fine Water Society Taste Awards — one of the world's most respected fine water competitions — evaluates water with the same rigour and methodology applied to wine, olive oil, and specialty coffee. Here's what the judges are actually looking for, and why it matters for what ends up in your glass.
What Is the Fine Water Society?
Founded in 2008, the Fine Water Society is a global organisation dedicated to the appreciation and education of premium water. Their annual Taste Awards bring together expert judges — including sommeliers, chefs, water specialists, and sensory scientists — to evaluate waters from around the world on a blind-tasting basis.
The competition is blind, meaning judges have no knowledge of the brand, origin, or price of the water they're evaluating. Only the water speaks for itself.
What Do the Judges Actually Measure?
Fine water is evaluated across several key sensory criteria:
1. Mouthfeel
How does the water feel on the palate? Is it light and delicate, or does it have a fuller, more substantial body? Mouthfeel is largely influenced by a water's Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) — the concentration of naturally occurring minerals. Higher TDS waters tend to feel rounder and more substantial.
2. Minerality
This refers to the taste impression created by the water's mineral content — calcium, magnesium, bicarbonates, silica, and more. A water with distinct minerality has a flavour profile all its own. This is what separates a truly exceptional mineral water from a blank, neutral one.
3. Finish
Just like wine, water has a finish — the lingering impression left after swallowing. A clean, pleasant finish is a hallmark of high-quality water.
4. Balance
The overall harmony of the water's characteristics. Does the minerality complement the mouthfeel? Is the finish consistent with the first impression? Balance is what separates a good water from a great one.
5. Purity
True mineral water should be clean, fresh, and free of any artificial intervention.
Why Does Source Matter?
The finest waters in the world share one thing in common: a protected, pristine source. The mineral profile of a water is a direct expression of the geology it passes through — the rock formations, aquifer depth, and filtration time all shape what ends up in the glass.
One Tree Mineral Water is sourced from a confined aquifer in the Macedon Ranges, Victoria — a naturally protected underground source that has been slowly filtering through ancient rock for thousands of years. No reverse osmosis. No additives. No interference. Just water expressing its terroir.
Why a Gold Award Matters
Winning gold at the Fine Water Society Taste Awards isn't a marketing exercise — it's a blind, expert-judged validation of what's actually in the bottle. For One Tree, our 2026 Gold Award is confirmation that our water's natural mineral profile, mouthfeel, and finish meet the highest international standards.
It matters because it means you're not just taking our word for it. The world's leading water experts tasted it blind — and they agreed.
Next time you pour a glass of One Tree, you'll know exactly what went into earning that gold. 🥇
