Queensland’s annual Brisbane-based wine show will become the country’s first big city show to move to the 100 wine judging scale.
Announced today, Competitions Officer Mr Andrew Tudor, said ” Wines at the Royal Queensland Wine Show 2012 (RQWS)will continue to be judged on condition, colour, bouquet and flavour however the conversion to the 100-point system allows awards to be used and understood globally.”
The Australian wine show system, with its capital city, regional, or style-based wine competitions, has used the 20 point (3-7-10 split) scale universally since the 70s. This was based yet adapted from the University of California Davis 20 point scale established in 1959. Over the years this scale has become the lynchpin of quality assessment across this country (awarding gold, silver and bronze medals).
Increasingly retail and journalistic ratings of wine quality or acceptance has moved to the 100 point scale widely used internationally. This leaves competitions run by the various show societies to finally admit to reality that one system best suits wine all exhibitors, and in turn, ultimately wine drinkers.
Royal Queensland Wine Show -thousands of bottles tasted
Though not reported yet, it must have taken some interstate correspondence between the big but fiercely independent Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth-based organisations to come together and agree to move: 20 point to 100 point for the 2012 wine show season.
Gold medals will be 96 to 100 (18.5-20 previously), silver, 90 to 95 (17-18.4) and bronze, 84 to 89 (15.5-16.9).
Of course this application of the 100 point scale, in allotting medals as well (most journalists don’t award medals, just a score) is just one of the many interpretations and medallion provisions around the world. They are different but lets get on with the show.
With the move, Australian wine judges will leave only the British-based wine assessors to report wine quality out of 20.
Peter Scudamore-Smith is a Brisbane-based Master of Wine, wine judge, winemaker, educator, tour leader www.uncorkedandcultivated.com.au He has judged the RQWS since 1980.
