BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV, July 21, 2003 -- The Fourteenth Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting welcomes more than one hundred waters from across the country and around the globe on Saturday, February 21.
Held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, it is the largest and longest running water tasting competition in the world.
Travel Berkeley Springs is now accepting registrations for the
award winning event. Municipalities and bottled water companies are encouraged to enter now at www.berkeleysprings.com/water.
Water can be entered in five categories: Municipal, Bottled Non-carbonated, Purified Drinking Water, Bottled Sparkling and the People's Choice Package Design. The entry deadline is January 15, 2004.
"Water: Our Legacy," the event¹s seminar, addresses industry issues on Friday February 20 from 1 - 5pm. Last year¹s featured speakers included Rick Eades, a geologist and environmental advocate and Stephen R. Kay, from the International Bottled Water Association. The seminar is free and open to the public.
All day Saturday, the public will have an opportunity to vote for the People¹s Choice award for best packaging. They will also be able to taste water along with the distinguished panel of media judges.
Watermaster Arthur von Wiesenberger, noted expert and author from Santa Barbara, CA, directs the challenge of evaluating a product where tastelessness is the most sought after quality. The unique event, dubbed the "granddaddy of water tastings," by von Wiesenberger, is held at Coolfont Resort. Produced by Travel Berkeley Springs, it is free and open to the public.
Judges in the past have included representatives from National Public Radio, USA Today, Washington Post and Times, Southern Living and Canada House and Garden Magazine and the Baltimore Sun. The event was featured on a National Geographic Today television special and was selected as one of Southeast Tourism Society¹s Top 20 Events for February, 2003.
The water tasting weekend begins on Thursday, February 19, with preliminary tastings at Coolfont. Special events and activities continue everywhere in Morgan County through Sunday, February 22nd.
Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting is the crown jewel of the award-winning Winter Festival of the Waters which features three months of special activities, sales, and accommodation packages. For more information and a free calendar of events, call Travel Berkeley Springs 800-447-8797 or check www.berkeleysprings.com winner of the Stars of Industry award for best Website at the 2000 Governor¹s Conference on Tourism.
