Wine judging: it‘s all about supping the stuff and giving medals to the ones you like best, right?
Wrong.
Actually, even if a judge tastes 35 wines in an hour, there‘s very little drinking.
Most of the wine gets a look, smell, swish in the mouth and then ends up spit into a cup.
Don‘t worry, it‘s not a waste.
From the process, the judge can determine everything he or she needs to know about the wine to give it a score out of 20. A score of 19 or 20 is exceptional, 17-18 excellent, 15-16 very good, 13-14 standard, 10-12 commercially acceptable but may have a flaw and below 10 is best avoided.
Personal preference shouldn‘t cloud a judge‘s scores.
For this reason, the wine variety (such as sauvignon blanc or pinot noir) may be identified, but otherwise wines come out in numbered glasses with no indication of winery, origin or year.
In addition, if a judge prefers chardonnay, but comes across a pinot gris that is brilliant according to the appearance, colour, aroma, acidity, body and flavour determinations in the 20-point scale, then the pinot gris should get the higher mark.
I found all this out Saturday when I was asked to judge wines for the seventh annual International Wine Exhibition planned for Coast Capri Hotel on Friday from 7 to 10 p.m.
I like wine and drink it all the time, but I‘m no expert. But by following the rules set out and the example of fellow judges in the room who know more than I do, I managed to muddle through.
In fact, maybe it‘s time to brag a bit.
I did more than muddle through.
My gold medal choice for best sauvignon blanc was the one from Oyster Bay (New Zealand), meaning I agreed with experts on the panel: Harry McWatters, the founder of Summerland‘s Sumac Ridge Winery, Jay Drysdale from South Okanagan wineries Le Vieux Pin and La Stella and judging panel chairman Michael Botner.
Same goes for my gold medal picks for rosé, ice wine and late harvest.
“Having a judging beforehand and then presenting the gold, silver and bronze medal wines at the exhibition on Friday is a great idea,” Botner said.
“First of all it helps promote the exhibition on Friday. And it also lets people know what the judges‘ choices were so they can taste them themselves and decide whether or not they agree. People always like to taste award winners and talk about them.”
In all, 16 judges tasted 132 wines to determine gold, silver and bronze medal winners in 16 categories.
Judges ranged from wine store owners and employees, restaurateurs, winery owners and staffers and wine consultants to an amateur like me.
“Most of what we‘ve tasted today is good commercial grade wine,” said judge Dennis Dwernychuk, the wine specialist from the big government liquor store at Orchard Park. “The one flight that really stood out for me was the Rhone reds, which are usually grenache or syrah or a blend of.”
Harry McWatters, who now has his own Vintage Consulting Group, said the overall quality was good.
“I gave high marks to and starred certain wines because they were exceptional, and I want to know what they are when the list and the medals are announced,” he said.
He didn‘t have to wait long.
The list was distributed and he was able to find out he gave top marks to gold-medal winners Larch Hills Madeleine Angevine (Salmon Arm), Lake Breeze pinot noir (Naramata) and the Oyster Bay sauvignon blanc.
The International Wine Exhibition is put on every year as a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Kelowna and the Sunrise Rotary Club to showcase wines from both the Okanagan and around the world.
At Friday‘s event, people will have the chance to taste more than 250 wines from 10 different countries.
Tickets are $45 at Coast Capri Hotel‘s front desk or at the Discover Wines store in Orchard Plaza.
Winners
Chardonnay
Gold: Oyster Bay (New Zealand) and best of show white wine
Silver: Wente Morning Fog (California)
Bronze: Lake Breeze (Okanagan)
Merlot
Gold: Bonitas (Okanagan) and best of show red wine
Silver: Ex Nihilo (Okanagan) and Hester Creek (Okanagan)
Bronze: Lake Breeze (Okanagan)
Sparkling
Gold: Bastianich Flor prosecco (Italy)
Silver: Gray Monk Odyssey (Okanagan)
Bronze: Summerhill Pyramid Robert Bateman Cipes rose
Pinot noir
Gold: Lake Breeze (Okanagan)
Silver: 8th Generation (Okanagan) and E&J Gallo MacMurray Ranch (California)
Bronze: Bonitas (Okanagan) and Oak Bay (Okanagan)
Sauvignon blanc
Gold: Oyster Bay (New Zealand)
Silver: Township 7 (Okanagan)
Bronze: Stag‘s Hollow (Okanagan)
Fruit wine
Gold: La Face Cachee de la Pomme Neige Premiere (France)
Silver: Frobidden Fruit Impearfection (Okanagan)
Bronze: Forbidden Fruit Caught Apricot Mistelle (Okanagan)
