How is wine rated?
Wine is typically rated by professional wine critics, wine competitions and organizations, and consumer-review platforms. The rating systems can vary, but most of them focus on the wine's appearance, aroma, flavor, and overall quality.
Professional wine critics: Professional wine critics, such as those at Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, and Wine Enthusiast, taste and rate wines based on a set of criteria. They typically assign a score on a 100-point scale, with higher scores indicating a higher-quality wine. They also write reviews that provide more detailed information about the wine's flavor profile, aging potential, and overall quality.
Wine competitions: Wine competitions, such as the Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge, and San Francisco International Wine Competition, are another way to rate wines. These competitions typically involve a panel of judges who taste and rate wines based on a set of criteria. The wines are judged against their peers, and medals are awarded to those that are considered to be the best.
Consumer-review platforms: Consumer-review platforms, such as Wine.com, Cellar Tracker, and Vivino, allow consumers to rate and review wines they have tasted. These platforms usually use a 5-star rating system, with 5 stars being the highest rating. These platforms also provide an average rating, which is calculated based on the ratings provided by many users.
Regardless of the rating system, it is important to remember that the ratings are just one aspect of a wine, and personal preference and taste always play a big role. Reading the critics and experts' notes and understanding the scoring criteria can be helpful, but ultimately, it is always best to try a wine yourself and see if it fits your taste.
