Ever took a sip of water that reminded you of fjords, deep blue skies and Arctic splendour? Fine water, like fine wine, is a treasured luxury. And there are plenty of fine water brands that have water sommeliers across the world in a tizzy. So much so that there is an annual WaterExpo that judges and awards the top fine water brands in the world. The latest to bag top honours at the recently concluded Fine Water Tasting Competition in Guangzhou, China, is Lofoten Arctic Water AS.
According to Michael Mascha, creator and publisher of FineWaters, a website portal that is the definitive voice for water connoisseurs and their accompanying lifestyle, this was the third International Fine Water Tasting Competition that was held by FineWaters and Fine Water Society in collaboration with WaterExpo Guangzhou. “Water, like wine, deserves attention and the water tasting conducted in Guangzhou puts water on the same level as wine, with a five-judge professional panel consisting of international water sommeliers, meeting for the first time at the tasting.”
This year, there were over 104 entries in various categories of the competition, compared to last year’s 70. Says Mascha, “Fine water is not just water. It has terroir, comes from a real place and has character. Still waters are separated into categories according to the minerality (TDS – Total Dissolved Solids) starting at a super low category (<50mg/l) usually consisting of iceberg, rain or glacial waters. The low category (<250mg/l) usually holds waters from sources such as springs and artesian. Waters with a higher minerality are in the medium category (<800mg/l) from exotic sources (deep sea, fruits).”
ADVERTISEMENT
Lofoten Arctic Water AS, for instance, comes from the Lofoten region in Norway and is a relatively new entrant in the segment. According to Kjell A Engeseth, partner, Lofoten Arctic Water AS, the award in the Best Taste Category comes as a leg up to the two-year-old brand. “This is the second such award for the brand, after we won the Global Bottled Water Award in the same category in 2016. It means a lot to the company, to be chosen by some of the top water sommeliers. It puts us in the spotlight. We have a very unique bottle design that is made of the finest quality glass. It is a reflection of Lofoten, which is known for purity, a clean and fresh environment. We are not only about being the best water, we come with the story of Lofoten,” he says.
For Mascha, the concept of fine water gaining visibility over the last 15 years is a sign of change. “Premium fine waters have been accepted broadly. We now see restaurants and hotels providing water menus and choice of water.” And by the looks of it, pairing water is not that uncommon either.