How wine judging works

Quick answer: what happens when wine is judged?

Wine judging is a formal way of assessing a wine against an agreed context, such as a variety, style, region, vintage or competition class. It uses human senses—especially sight, smell and taste—but applies them in a more organised way than casual drinking.

A typical wine-show process looks like this:

1. Wines are entered into defined classes.
2. Organisers group them into flights and prepare them for service.
3. Judges taste the wines, often without seeing the producer or label.
4. Each judge records observations and an initial assessment.
5. Judges discuss the wines as a panel and may taste them again.
6. Medals, class awards or trophies are decided according to that event’s rules.
7. Results may be published and feedback may be provided to exhibitors.

That sequence is common, but it is not universal. Competitions differ in their classes, blinding procedures, score sheets, medal thresholds and award stages.

What do judges look for?

A judge commonly considers:

• Appearance: colour, clarity and visual condition.
• Aroma: the wine’s condition, intensity and character.
• Palate: flavour, texture, acidity, sweetness, tannin, alcohol impression and body.
• Balance and structure: how the wine’s components work together.
• Length: how long its flavours and sensations persist.
• Typicity or style: whether it suits the character expected for its class, where relevant.
• Overall quality: the judge’s considered view of how successfully the wine performs in context.

These are common assessment areas, not one universal score sheet. One organisation might use points; another might rely more heavily on written comments, categories or panel discussion.

The important distinction is between noticing something and liking it. A judge might identify high acidity or firm tannin without treating either as automatically good or bad. The question is usually whether the feature is appropriate, balanced and well integrated for the wine’s style.

How Australian wine shows organise judging

Australian wine shows generally divide entries into classes. A class might group wines by grape variety, style, region, vintage or another rule set. Judges then compare wines within that defined group rather than treating every wine in the show as one enormous competition.

The rules belong to each show. For example, the National Wine Show of Australia publishes its own qualifying-show and trophy-eligibility requirements. Sydney Royal publishes its own medal point bands and information about its judging panel. The Australian Small Winemakers Show also sets its own requirements for wines being considered for trophies.

These examples show why there is no single Australian rule saying that every wine show must use the same score, medal threshold or judging sequence. “Gold” means that a wine met that particular competition’s standard in that particular class.

Blind, semi-blind and identified judging

In blind judging, identifying information is hidden or replaced with a code. The aim is to reduce the influence of brand, producer, price, reputation, packaging and expectations about a region or variety.

A semi-blind or limited-information tasting withholds some details while revealing others—for example, the class or variety but not the producer. This can place the wine in a relevant context while reducing some identity-related bias.

In an identified tasting, judges know more about the wine. That approach may be useful for technical assessment, production decisions, feedback or education. It serves a different purpose from a competition designed to compare wines with minimal identity information.

Blinding helps, but it does not make judging perfectly objective. Judges still differ in their sensitivity to aromas, flavours and faults. Fatigue, serving order, glassware, sample condition, temperature and the design of the judging session can also affect perception. The Australian Wine Research Institute notes that wine-show judging has practical limits and does not have all the controls of a sensory laboratory.

Why do judges taste alone before talking?

Independent tasting gives each judge a chance to form an initial view before hearing the panel. Judges may write notes, assign a score or place a wine within a quality range before discussion begins.

The panel discussion can then help judges compare observations and explain why they reached different conclusions. A judge may notice a feature another judge missed, or the group may decide that a wine sits close to the boundary between two awards.

Discussion does not remove subjectivity. It creates a reasoned group decision under particular conditions. That is useful, but it is not an eternal declaration of truth.

What do scores, medals and trophies mean?

A score is a measurement convention. Different systems can use different scales, and scores from separate competitions should not be treated as directly interchangeable without understanding how each was created.

A medal is an award within a competition’s rules. A trophy usually involves a further selection from eligible wines, often after class judging or additional tasting. The exact process varies.

For a drinker, the most useful interpretation is:

A medal or score is a signal that judges rated the wine positively within a particular system and category.

It is not a guarantee that you will prefer the wine. Personal taste, food, occasion, price and preferred style still matter. A wine without a medal is not automatically faulty or poor, either: it may have been entered in a competitive class, suited a different style, or simply not received an award in that judging session.

Why can judges disagree?

Judges can disagree because they:

• perceive aromas and flavours at different thresholds;
• have different reference points and tasting experience;
• give different weight to intensity, balance, typicity or complexity;
• respond differently to a particular style;
• taste the wine at a slightly different moment;
• encounter bottle variation or sample deterioration;
• are affected by fatigue or the order of service.

Disagreement does not necessarily mean that one judge is incompetent. Formal judging asks people to make a reasoned assessment of a sensory experience, and sensory experiences vary between people.

How to taste more methodically at home

Home tasting will not reproduce a formal wine show, but you can borrow some useful habits:

1. Taste in a clean, neutral setting.
2. Look at the wine before deciding what you expect.
3. Smell it before and after a gentle swirl.
4. Note the condition and intensity of its aromas.
5. Assess flavour, acidity, sweetness, tannin, body and texture.
6. Consider balance and how long the finish lasts.
7. Write your observations before discussing the wine.
8. Retaste after a short pause.
9. Separate “what I notice” from “whether I like it”.

That final distinction is powerful. “I notice firm tannin” is an observation. “I do not enjoy firm tannin” is a preference. Both are useful, but they answer different questions.

Frequently asked questions

Is wine judging completely objective?

No. It is structured and can be reasoned, but it still depends on human perception, agreed criteria and the conditions of the tasting.

Are all wine competitions judged blind?

No. Many sensory procedures use coded or blind samples to reduce bias, but judging protocols vary between organisations and events.

Do all wine judges use a 100-point scale?

No. Competitions and assessment panels use different scoring systems and may use points, categories, written notes or panel decisions.

Does a Gold medal mean a wine is the best?

It means the wine achieved that competition’s Gold standard in its class. It does not establish that the wine is universally superior or that every drinker will prefer it.

Can I judge wine like a professional at home?

You can practise observing wine systematically, but home tasting usually lacks formal sample coding, controlled service, panel structure and competition context.

Why might a wine judge and I disagree?

You may have different sensitivities, preferences, reference points or expectations. A judge’s result describes an assessment in a particular system; it does not cancel your own response to the wine.