BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV, Aug. 7, 2002 -- The Thirteenth Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting will welcome more than one hundred waters from across the country and around the globe.
Held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, the Feb. 22 event 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 http://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, 2003.
New in the municipal category this year is an award for the Best Water in the USA, joining the traditional, Best in the World.
"Water: Our Legacy," the event?s seminar, addresses industry issues on Friday February 21 from 1 - 5pm. Featured speakers have come from the United Nations, World Water Rescue Foundation, International Bottled Water Association, National Drinking Water Clearinghouse and the Environmental Protection Agency. Seminar registration also takes place at http://www.berkeleysprings.com/water.
All day Saturday, the public will have an opportunity to vote for the People?s 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 for the 2002 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting included representatives from USA Recently, Blue Ridge Country Magazine, Washington Times, Copley News Service and the Associated Press. The event was featured on a National Geographic Recently television special.
The water tasting weekend begins on Thursday, February 20, with preliminary tastings at Coolfont. Special events and activities continue everywhere in Morgan County through Sunday, February 23.
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 Governor?s Conference on Tourism.
