The 35th Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting, the world’s premier water competition, recently recognized top waters from three continents. With over 80 entries from four continents, participants vied for gold, silver, and bronze medals across multiple categories. The prestigious event took place at The Country Inn in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.
“I love that every year we are able to highlight water and contribute in such a positive way,” shares Jill Klein Rone, Festival Producer. “By recognizing excellence and awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals, we are contributing to the economic development of water companies and municipalities. I feel fortunate to be able to promote and represent Berkeley Springs on the world stage.”
Municipal Water Category: A U.S. Sweep
Jill Klein Rone, Brad Riggs of Gold-winner Emporia, Kansas, and Arthur von Wiesenberger, beloved WaterMaster
The Municipal Water Category saw an impressive sweep by U.S. entrants, featuring three former gold medalists. Emporia, Kansas secured its second Gold Medal, while hometown favorite Berkeley Springs, West Virginia claimed Silver. Mission Springs Water District, Desert Hot Springs, California earned Bronze, with Southwest Water Authority, Dickinson, North Dakota placing fourth. Piedmont, West Virginia, and City of Santa Ana, California, tied for fifth place—just a single point behind.
Bottled Non-Carbonated Water: Greece Takes Gold Again
In the Bottled Non-Carbonated Water Category, Theoni Natural Mineral Water (Karditsa, Greece) celebrated its second Gold Medal victory. Shenandoah Rain (Edinburg, Virginia) won Silver, while previous gold medalist Eldorado Natural Spring Water (Eldorado Springs, Colorado) secured Bronze. Another former Gold Medalist, Zaros Natural Mineral Water, placed fourth, with Berkeley Springs Water finishing in fifth.
Sparkling Water: A Global Showcase
The Sparkling Water category featured winners from three continents. Wilderness Mountain Water (Bland, Virginia) claimed Gold, while repeat medalists Antipodes Water (Otakiri, Whakatane, New Zealand) and Tesanjaki Kiseljack (Tesanj, Bosnia) earned Silver and Bronze, respectively. Little Hampton Sparkling (Doveton, Victoria, Australia), a previous gold medalist, placed fourth, and Adobe Mountain (Sacramento, California) made an impressive debut in fifth place.
Over its 35-year history, the competition has attracted waters from 59 different nations, including Tasmania, Turkey, Bosnia, Greece, and New Zealand.
Purified Water: Excellence in Filtration
LeSage Natural Water took home the Silver in the Purified Water category
The Purified Water category saw DrinkMore Water (Gaithersburg, Maryland) take home Gold, while multi-medalist Le Sage Natural Water (Lesage, West Virginia) secured Silver. Bronze went to Ophora Hyper-Oxygenated® Water (Santa Barbara, California, a previous multi-Gold Medal winner renowned for its purity.
A Coveted Honor in the Bottled Water Industry
The Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting has long been a valuable platform for bottled water brands, with winners often redesigning their packaging to highlight their medal status. More than a dozen entrants in the 2025 competition featured labels adorned with previous medals, demonstrating the event’s significance in the industry.
This year, 10 expert judges spent hours tasting and selecting winners from waters sourced across 19 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, and eight foreign countries. The competition has, over its 35-year history, attracted waters from 59 different nations, including Tasmania, Turkey, Bosnia, Greece, and New Zealand.
People’s Choice Packaging Awards
The Gold goes to Piney Plains Natural Spring Water for People’s Choice Packaging Design
Since 2021, the People’s Choice Award has celebrated outstanding packaging design. This year’s competition saw 11 entrants, with the following winners:
- Gold: Piney Plains Natural Spring Water (Little Orleans, Maryland)—a striking, reusable aluminum container.
- Silver: Wilderness Mountain Water (Bland, Virginia)—featuring a distinctive woolly mammoth design.
- Bronze: Adobe Mountain (Sacramento, California)—recognized for its elegant fluted glass bottle.
- Fourth & Fifth Place: Intentions Water (Henderson, Tennessee) and Turtle Water (Gadsden, Alabama).
Celebrating a Legacy of Water Excellence
The evening concluded with the event’s famous “water rush,” where attendees eagerly collected hundreds of bottles used during the judging process. Peter and Cynthia Lloyd, loyal attendees from Brooklyn, once again made the journey specifically for this beloved tradition. The competition’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the OneDrop Foundation, founded by Cirque du Soleil’s Guy Laliberté. The organization is dedicated to ensuring sustainable access to safe water and sanitation for vulnerable communities through innovation, creativity, and art.
A Rigorous Judging Process
Insider’s Guide to Spas’ Mary Bemis, a Certified Water Taster, returned as a judge for her fourth year; photo by Mimi Berliner
Under the guidance of Arthur von Wiesenberger, the judges followed rigorous tasting standards akin to wine evaluations, assessing each water for:
Appearance: Should be clear (or slightly opaque for glacial waters).
Aroma: Ideally, odorless.
Taste: Clean and refreshing.
Mouthfeel: Light and smooth.
Aftertaste: Should leave the drinker wanting more.
“The consistency in winners, despite different judging panels each year, underscores the credibility of the competition,” notes esteemed Watermaster Arthur von Wiesenberger. “It also speaks to the exceptional quality of the waters submitted.” Judges were awarded Certified Water Taster diplomas, underscoring the precision and expertise required for the role. The event was produced by Travel Berkeley Springs.