Water Snobs

 Even though bottled water has existed for a long time it wasn't until the late 1990s that it became popular as people became more concerned about what was in their water. Today water is a whole new ballgame with "fine waters" and even water sommeliers who can suggest pairings with meals. Here's a list on how water is judged and the top waters from this years competition. It seems snobbish at best to even consider these minutiae when there are people in the world without clean water to drink. 

 

• The 2025 Fine Waters Taste & Design Awards evaluated more than 100 bottled waters from 35 countries, naming winners across categories based on minerality, carbonation, and origin.
• Waters were judged by experts who assessed each bottle’s taste, mouthfeel, pH, and terroir — highlighting that water, like wine, has unique characteristics based on its source.
• Interest in fine bottled water is growing globally, with the premium market valued at $38.6 billion in 2024.

• Fine Waters Taste & Design Awards 2025: Gold Award Winners for Taste

  STILL WATER

  • Super-low minerality: Wossa (Austria)
  • Low minerality: Antipodes (New Zealand)
  • Medium minerality: Pure One (New Zealand)
  • High minerality: Marzia (Italy)
  • Very high minerality: Socosani (Peru)
  • Curated: Vohena Deep Sea Water (South Korea)

  SPARKLING WATER

  • Super-low minerality: Pure Mist (Australia)
  • Low minerality: Jaure (Sweden)
  • Medium minerality: Balbin (Czech Republic)
  • High minerality: Tehuacan (Mexico)
  • Very high minerality: Socosani (Peru)
  • Naturally carbonated, low to high minerality: Güitig (Ecuador)
  • Naturally carbonated, very high minerality: Vichy Catalan (Spain)
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