In Greece, choosing between still and sparkling water used to be the biggest decision a diner faced at a restaurant. That is changing, as a global trend for "fine water" turns bottled water into a luxury product complete with water sommeliers, tasting menus and bottles priced as high as $95.
The choice of water has become far more complex in recent years. Drinkers are now asked to consider which source the water comes from, its mineral content, its texture, which glass it is served in and even which dish it pairs with. Bottled water is increasingly marketed with the trappings of a premium product, including iconic labels, collectible bottles, dedicated sommeliers and tasting menus built around it.
Behind the shift is a new culture that treats water less as a basic necessity and more as an object of taste, design and status, giving a once-overlooked product its own prominent place on the table.
Water Gains Its Own Terroir
At the top of this market sit so-called "fine waters," distinguished not just by their source but by mineral content, carbonation, pH, texture and taste profile. Origin, composition and history now carry the same weight for water that they do for a fine wine, with the source no longer a small-print detail on the label but part of the product's value and the experience built around it.
The trend now has its own institutional stage. The Taste & Design Awards, run by the organization FineWaters, were held in May 2026 in Montreal, judged by a six-member panel of international water sommeliers. Entries were assessed in separate categories based on mineral content, with different characteristics recognized across categories. This year's winners included Norway's EIRA and Austria's Wossa.
Aqua Carpatica's International Awards
Brands with a strong presence in the Greek market are also competing on this international stage. AQUA Carpatica has repeatedly won awards from the International Taste Institute, where chefs and sommeliers evaluate waters on their taste and sensory qualities.
Both the brand's still and naturally sparkling waters have received the Diamond Taste Award, the institute's highest honor. The brand has continued to pick up awards in the years since, adding dozens of prizes from international taste and quality competitions.
