As Director of several major wine competitions, I’m frequently asked what makes a wine a gold-medal winner. Judges typically use whatever scoring/rating method they would use in their professional wine evaluations, but they still need guidelines that reflect the standards of the competitions that have invited them to adjudicate.
I thought it might be enlightening to publish the guidelines I gave the judges prior to their tastings last weekend at the Sommelier Challenge in San Diego. (Click here for complete results).
Here goes:
Sommelier Challenge Judging Guidelines
1. This is a blind tasting. Wines will be evaluated absent information about producer, vintage or price.
2. Because wines have been submitted from the world over, judges may ask questions pertaining to origin so that wines can be evaluated in context.
3. Judges should take into account the fact that winemaking styles vary. A wine that is well made within an accepted style should be judged accordingly.
4. At least two Somms will take a look at each wine entered. The judges may compare notes, but their votes should be independent and reflect their personal opinion regarding the wine being evaluated.
5. Votes will be taken at the conclusion of each flight and recorded by the table monitor.
Silver Medal
A silver medal should be awarded to wines that are well made, absent flaws, and pleasing enough that you wouldn’t hesitate to pour it for a guest.
Gold Medal
A gold medal should be awarded to wines exhibiting outstanding intensity of flavor and/or complexity. While palate weight can be a positive factor in the evaluation, more delicate wines that possess exceptional nuance should not be overlooked for gold-medal consideration. Mineral-driven and fruit-driven wines should be given equal consideration. A gold-medal wine should leave the judge with an extremely positive overall impression.
Best of Show/Platinum
Any wine that a judge believes would be competitive for best in its class should be put forward for the Best of Show round of judging. After all wines have been judged, we will taste those nominated for best red, best white, best sparkling, best rose, best dessert and best fortified. All wines nominated for Best of Show will automatically be elevated to a Platinum medal.
If you believe a wine has a chance at best in its class, don’t be bashful!
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