Terms & Conditions

1.0 Wine Options® General Terms and Conditions

1.1 The Wine Options® Competition (referred to in these Terms & Conditions as “Options” or “the Competition”) are owned and operated by Ballyhoo UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Am Rehberg 7, 64625 Bensheim, Germany. (“Ballyhoo”). In these Terms and Conditions Wine Options® and/or Ballyhoo® may be referred to as “we” or “us”.

1.2 For all queries or issues with Wine Options® and these Terms and Conditions, please contact: Wine Options®, Am Rehberg 7, 64625 Bensheim, Germany or via Email at info@options.wine. We will endeavour to respond to email messages within five working days.

1.3 Wine Options®, Ballyhoo®, and Ballyhoo UG believe in responsible drinking and consumption of alcohol. Excessive use of alcohol can be dangerous to your health. Please consume alcohol wisely and in moderation.

 

2.0 Wine Options® Entry Conditions and Requirements 

2.1 These Terms and Conditions apply to the Wine Options® Competition and any associated events. Any person or persons we determine to be in breach may be excluded from entering and/or may be excluded from the Competition and future editions of the Competition. By submitting an entry, entrants (“Entrants”) are deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions and to have agreed to be bound by them.

2.2 All Entrants must be 18 years or over at the date of entry in order to participate in the Competition and must be of legal drinking age in their country of residence. 

1. A person purchasing a Wine Options® Kit(s) asserts that they, or to whom the kit(s) are sent, are entitled to import and/or receive them.
2. Any claims for duty, excise, shipment levies, charges, or taxes are bourn by the Entrant, purchaser, or recipient and not Wine Options® or Ballyhoo UG.
3. Wine Options ® and/or Ballyhoo UG are not responsible for kit(s) purchased by persons of legal drinking age who give, grant, sell, or provide the said kit(s) to underage persons. Despite a valid purchase agreement, Wine Options® reserves the right to reject an Entry to the competition from a person or persons they believe or have reasonable grounds to suspect is not of legal drinking age in their country of residence.

2.3 Individual Entrants, Team Captains, Corporate Co-ordinators (“Entrants”) must supply details for entry and registration including name, shipping address, and a valid email address.

1. Any additional information provided (such as but not limited to; an “Opti” name when competing anonymously, Team Names, passwords, or details entered in the player profile section) are deemed to have been provided with the permission of the Entrant and in accordance with the specific data protection legislation in their relevant jurisdiction.
2. Wine Options® and/or Ballyhoo® use a third party providers for all financial transactions and as a result do not hold, store, retain, or have access to any payment information from the Entrants.
3. Wine Options® and/or Ballyhoo® do not directly email any Entrant requesting payment.

2.4 Wine Options® and/or Ballyhoo® reserve the right to reject or require modification to any entry name without recourse to a justification. Entrants may not impersonate other people (living or dead). We reserve the right to request identity verification in this regard.

2.5 We reserve the right to verify Entrants’ eligibility and to check identity. If you have been asked for proof of your identity and/or your eligibility, your failure to provide such proof within a reasonable time could result in your disqualification from participation in the Competition. All personal details and information supplied must be truthful and accurate. If Wine Options® checks identity, the only data stored by Wine Options® and/or Ballyhoo UG, is that the identity has been confirmed.

2.6 By entering, purchasing an entry, or purchasing a Team Member Options® entry, that person or persons hereby consents to these Terms & Conditions as well as the retention and use of their provided personal details including answers submitted in the Wine Options® Competition.

1. A person or persons in possession of a Wine Options® Kit, obtained as a gift or as a promotion or other ground whereby they have not directly purchased the said Kit must comply with all the Terms and Conditions hereby outlined as if they had purchased the kit. In order to participate in the Competition they will be required to abide by the rules and conditions as set out herein.

2.7 All Entrants who comply with these Terms and Conditions, complete the registration process, and make an Entry payment will be permitted to enter the Competition.

2.8 By entering the Competition, Entrants consent to our publication or display of their winning details, including points score along with their name (or “Opti Name” in the case of an anonymous entry) and/or company details in our publications, on websites, Instagram accounts, in promotional emails, across various social media channels, and/or in any other publicity material. Names of winning contestants may also be published in the industry trade press. 

2.9 Entrants are responsible to ensure that the email address and other details they provide when submitting the registration form are accurate and updated. If the email address supplied is invalid for whatever reason, we reserve the right to potentially withdraw that associated entry.

2.10 You are entitled to a full refund of any Entry Fee within 14 days of payment by sending that request for refund to reg@options.wine or by initiating a return process at www.options.wine. Entry fees are only refundable from the point we receive returned any unopened or undamaged Wine Options® Kit(s). Return shipment is at your cost including any duties or taxes incurred.

1. Wine Options® Competition Kits and Wine Options® Kits where the box seals are broken/opened are not returnable. Tampering with box seals in any way, shape, or form invalidates your right to a refund. We are not able to vouch for the safety of the Wine Options® Competition Kit(s) if they are returned with seals broken, therefore, the item is no longer saleable, must be deemed to have been used, and accordingly removes any right to refund or recourse.
2. Despiteentering and being permitted to take part in the Competition there is no compulsion to submit answers or participate. The non-submission of answers (full or partial) will not entitle the Entrant or the Wine Options® Kit purchaser to a refund. In the event that answers are not provided within the time frame set for the Competition, the Entrant will be deemed to have forfeited their Entry and there is no recourse for a refund nor are Wine Options® / Ballyhoo® liable for any loss asserted by the Entrant or kit purchaser.

2.11 We reserve the right to omit or suspend an Entry at any time at our sole discretion, without liability to the Entrant(s) but shall notify the Entrant as soon as reasonably possible. This clause may be invoked for either a breach of these Terms and Conditions, the playing rules, or for what is determined by the organisers to be in contravention of the spirit of the Competition.

2.12 Without exception;

(a) employees of Wine Options® and Ballyhoo UG; and

(b) any person directly or indirectly involved in the running of the Competition;

are excluded from entering the Competition and their entries will not be accepted.

2.13 All Entrants whom have submitted full or partial answers to the relevant questions to the relevant Wine Options® Kit will be awarded either a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Commended Status based on their cumulative point score. These are not physical Prizes but rather industry-recognised accreditations which may be quoted for status and indicate the level at which they performed in competing in Wine Options®.

2.14 Winners are not entitled to a cash alternative to any prizes or Status that may or may not be awarded in the Competition. 

2.15 We reserve the right to alter, amend, suspend or withdraw these Terms and Conditions without prior notice. Any changes to these Terms and Conditions will be indicated on the Website www.options.wine with the date of their publication. It is the responsibility of Entrants to check for any such changes.

2.16 Candidates may withdraw from our right to the publication of their name(s)/details and results at any time by email to reg@options.wine If the results have already been published, we will endeavour as quickly as reasonably possible to stop any further publication. We are unable to exercise control over information published by third parties. Any damage, real or imagined to reputation does not incur a liability to Wine Options®, Ballyhoo UG, or the Judges, their staff or any person(s) involved in the management of the Competition. 

2.17 All Wine Options® Kits are sent closed with a tamper evident seal. Wine Options® and Ballyhoo UG can in no way be liable or responsible for the contents or the integrity of those contents in the event of that seal having been broken.

1. The contents of every Wine Options® kit are closed with tamper evident seals. These include a fixed aluminium capsule, and a tamper evident sticker on the top of that capsule. If either show evidence of having been broken or interfered with in any way, Wine Options® and Ballyhoo UG cannot be held liable or responsible for either the contents or any damages arising from the use of those contents.
2. In the unlikely event of a tamper evident seal being detected, please report immediately to either info@options.wine or reg@options.wine.

2.18 Entry to Wine Options® is open to those persons who have satisfied the foregoing requirements and either purchased or received kit(s) when entitled to do so, that have been obtained or purchased from Wine Options® or their approved suppliers/retailers/partners.

1. the recommended price for the entry fee to the Wine Options® Competition is set and available to be seen on options.wine
2. Wine Options® maintains a register and agreement with all licensed resellers of Wine Options®
3. there may be eventualities where third party suppliers, i.e wine clubs, influencers, wine educators or similar; charge additional fees for their services in relation to Wine Options®. We have no influence or control over those fees;
4. contact us directly at info@options.wine or reg@options.wine if you wish to check if a person or organisation is an approved reseller of Wine Options® or with any issues you may have with any approved reseller including price.

 

3.0 Wine Options®, the Competition

3.1 The spirit and ethos of Wine Options® is to compete in an inclusive and fair way. Entrants are encouraged to view Wine Options® as an opportunity to primarily determine their individual ability to assess wine using their experience and knowledge. The objective is to identify, as closely as possible, the origin of the kit contents.

3.2 Entrants are not being sold wine, nor are they purchasing wine.

3.3 Entrants and kit Purchasers are purchasing entry and/or access to the Competition. The Competition has an Entry Fee. This Entry fee is found on the website www.options.wine. In order to enter the Competition, the potential Entrant pays this Entry Fee in consideration for entering the Competition. In the event that the kit is purchased on behalf or for the entrant, the Purchaser buys a right to enter the competition which they then assign to the Entrant. Neither Wine Options® or Ballyhoo UG are selling wine to the Entrant(s) or kit Purchasers, nor should they be construed as selling wine. The Entrant or Purchaser, will be provided with a Wine Options® Competition Kit. The contents of the Competition Kit have no commercial value whatsoever. The contents of the Competition Kit may not be sold or used by the Entrant or third parties in any way other than their intended purpose.

3.4 Entrants may, after receiving their Wine Options® Kit, if they wish, select and submit answers regarding to questions posed on www.options.wine

1. If the Wine Options® Competition Entry Fee has been paid and the relevant Competition Kit received, or construed to have been received at the nominated delivery address of the Entrant, the contract between Wine Options®/Ballyhoo UG and the Entrant is deemed to have been completed.

3.5 The Wine Options® Competition involves a series of questions in relation to the Competition Kit content. There are a series of questions set by the Judges. Entrants select the best answer from a series of Options provided. Each Option, or answer, carries a different level of points. In some situations, achieving a correct result may not mean the Entrant has amassed a perfect score. These points are accumulated. The questions are set in order to allow an Entrant to test their wine knowledge and ability.

1. the Questions and Answers are set by the Judges using information supplied by the producers. Wine Options® and/or Ballyhoo UG, are not liable for erroneous information provided by a producer.

3.6 Technically faulty Kit components are not the responsibility of the Judges, Wine Options®, or Ballyhoo UG. In the event of this being detected, the Entrants have no recourse against the Competition, the organisers, suppliers, or producers. They should, however, contact the organisers. The judges are permitted to provide the Entrant with redress or adjust the Entrant’s point score without the requirement to inform other Competitors.

3.7 Entrants are not required to answer all questions in oder to submit an entry. Entrants will only be able to submit incomplete answers to questions by confirming this is their wish to do so. Entrants do not have to provide answers to all questions at one time. Using a Wine Options® Account, they may pause and return at their leisure before submitting their final complete answers. After final submission, no further changes are permitted and the accumulated point score for the Entrant will be determined.

1. it is the responsibility of the Entrant to provide answers and declare they have “locked” in those answers and are bound by the results.
2. in the case of a Team Entry, all Team Members have access to the Questions and Options. Only the Team Captain may submit answers.

3.8 Entrants will be advised of their point score and provided a Status Award. All Entrants whom have submitted answers to the questions will be awarded either a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Commended status based on their cumulative point score. This award will be categorised as Provisional until such time as it is confirmed by the Judges. The Judges will confirm by Email the Status Award.

3.9 Best placed Entrants and/or invitees will potentially be selected to compete in further rounds so as to determine the ultimate series or Edition winner. The number of invitees may vary from time-to-time. Wine Options® will contact the invitees directly with an offer to purchase their entry into further rounds.

3.10 The winner(s) will be those with the highest point score in the further round(s). In the case of a tie, the ultimate winner will be awarded based on a count back of the points from any or all relevant initial round(s). In the event of this still being tied, the number of wines correctly identified will be considered or the ultimate winner shared. The Judges decision will be final.

3.11 Competitors submitting answers after an announced closing date in relation to a particular Competition Kit or Edition, after declared results, after entry to further rounds are announced, or after the relevant kits wines are revealed will still be eligible for a Status Award (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Commended) in relation to that kit but may have forfeited the ability to enter and take part in further rounds. Wine Options® will endeavour to contact Entrants / Purchasers via email prior to a deadline but cannot by held responsible for non-delivery of the same or the inability of the Entrant / Purchaser to submit answers prior to the expiry of that deadline or kit validity. Wine Options® and/or Ballyhoo UG will consider individual cases on their merits but their decision regarding eligibility for entry is final.

3.12 Wine Identity reveal, winners, information on producers, scores, and Status Awards may be declared from time-to-time by Wine Options® as it suits. Between Boxing Day 26th of December and New Year’s, Wine Options® will publish an annual summary.

 

4.0 Judging and Selection

4.1 Wines for inclusion in Wine Options® are selected by a panel of esteemed Judges with formal winemaking and/or wine tasting qualifications and/or senior industry experience. The wines chosen are at their discretion and have been selected to underpin the aims and objectives of the competition. Wine Options® / Ballyhoo UG do not release the names of the Judges in the spirit of the competition.

1. The Judging Panel is selected by the owners and shareholders of Wine Options®/Ballyhoo UG who are under no obligation to release the name(s) of those Judges or the reasons for their having been selected. The Judge(s) may at their own discretion reveal their role in being or having been an Options Judge.
2. Wine Options® and/or Ballyhoo UG, may from time-to-time permit Guest or Celebrity Judges to join the Judges Panel. A Guest of Celebrity Judge may take active part in selecting and determining the wines for a particular Edition of Wine Options® but are not permitted to determine matters relating to the eligibility of Entrants, Questions/Options, Status Awards, or Winner(s). Wine Options® reserves the right to publicise the name and use the Guest Judge or Celebrity Judge in promotions relating to the Competition.

4.2 The Judges are responsible for setting the Questions and Options in the Competition. They rely in good faith on the information communicated to them by the supplier of the wine(s), taken from label(s), and/or technical sheets issued by the producer. Prior to being included, the questions on the relevant wine are approved by the wine supplier and/or producer. In the case of error or omission, the Judges, Wine Options®, Ballyhoo UG are not liable to the Entrant(s).

4.3 Status Award or any prize will be advised by Email to the Entrant(s).

4.4 The decisions of Wine Options®, Ballyhoo UG, or the Judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

 

5.0 Personal Details and Data Protection

5.1 We will use personal details Entrants provide to us to operate the Competition process, to send updates, to notify Entrants of relevant competition information including entry reminders.  We may include names of individuals or teams (Opti Names in the case of anonymous entries) in the  publication, on our website, in promotional emails, and across our social media channels.

5.2 Entrant’s personal details will be treated in accordance with our Privacy Policy as it exists from time to time and in accordance with the law as it relates to personal details.

5.3 Privacy Policy and Data Protection information can be found on our website www.options.wine

5.4 The Status Award list may be disclosed online at www.options.wine

5.5 Entrants consent with their entry to receive materials from the Competition, Wine Options®, or Ballyhoo UG in relation to the Competition, and/or the suppliers of wines to the Competition. Entrants can withdraw their consent to receiving such materials by unsubscribing at reg@options.wine at anytime. 

5.6 Entrants are encouraged to complete a profile in their Opti Account. This will allow a better understanding of their wine experience, professional involvement, and wine background. This is purely voluntary. Wine Options® reserves the right to request proof of professional involvement before awarding a form of “verified tick”. The colours and type of “ticks” available are listed on www.options.wine.

5.7 Entrants are encouraged to promote their involvement with Wine Options® and their Status Award online and in their choice of social media. Entrants may freely refer to Wine Options® in Instagram @wine.options and declare their Status Award / Verified Profile type in their postings, bio, and online material. Entrants will be advised of how to download Status Award Logos for their free use. Misuse or declaration of an Status Level not achieved will be called out and may prevent the Entrant from taking part in further events or Competitions. Communication and Confirmation of the Status Award level to the Entrant is an entitlement/authorisation for the Entrant to use the relevant Status Award Logo in their own publicity. Wine Options® reserves the right to withdraw this right without stating a reason at any time. 

 

6.0 Liability 

6.1 We shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss, loss of business, or any loss of reputation to the Entrant. Our total liability to the Entrant in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise, shall not exceed the total Wine Options® Entry fee paid by you in the year of competition.

6.2 We shall not be in breach of these Terms and Conditions nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of our obligations under these Terms and Conditions if such delay or failure result from events, circumstances or causes beyond our reasonable control.

 

7.0 Legal Standing

7.1 These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute, controversy, proceedings, or claim of whatever nature arising out of or in any way relating to these Terms and Conditions, the validity and performance hereof or their formation (including any non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with German law. The parties hereby irrevocably acknowledge and agree that the German courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in respect hereof. The entry transaction and payment is deemed to take place in Germany upon it’s acceptance by Wine Options® and/or Ballyhoo UG and/or their financial transaction merchants.

1. Wine Options® Kits purchased from or supplied by third parties do not create a relationship with Wine Options® or Ballyhoo UG until such time as the foregoing entry requirements are met. At that time, the relationship is deemed to have been accepted in Germany.

7.2 Wine Options® and Ballyhoo® are registered trademarks. Fonts, logos, and all marketing “tag lines” are copyrighted and/or covered by all relevant trademark and intellectual property protection. The Competition, its structure, operation, questions, operating system, and so on are copyrighted and benefit from all intellectual property rights. In general, the Competition names, brands and distinctive signs reproduced on the website or on other media or publications diffused and developed by the Competition, Wine Options®, and/or Ballyhoo UG are protected by copyright and all intellectual property rights.

1. These Terms and Conditions are to be considered an integral part of the Wine Options® Competition and thus form part of the Competition process. These Terms and Conditions, therefore, are also protected under copyright and benefit from all relevant protections in relation to intellectual property rights.

7.3 If events occur that render the Competition itself or the awarding of Status Award levels, or a winner impossible due to reasons beyond the control of Wine Options®, we reserve the right to change, modify, or withdraw the competition at any time and the Entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to Wine Options®, Ballyhoo UG, or the Judges as a result thereof.

Latest Update to Terms and Conditions April 2024.