Click here to download the Wine Rating Encyclopedia. How Wines are Rated.
| 100 Point Rating Scales | ||||||
| 1978 | The Wine Advocate - Initially titled The Baltimore-Washington Wine Advocate, changed names in 1979. Bi-monthly magazine by Robert Parker that started and popularized the 100 point rating scale. Parker is a controversial wine icon and is considered to have a profound impact on global wine prices, styles, marketing, and ratings. Current circulation 50,000. | Founded by Robert Parker. Other reviewers include Antonio Galloni, Karen MacNeil, Neal Martin, Jay Miller, Lisa Perrotti, David Schildknecht, Mark Squires, Kevin Zraly |
Started and popularized the 100 point scale as we now know it | |||
| 1976 | The Wine Spectator – San Diego magazine initially called a tabloid, not for elitists. Purchased by Marvin Shanken in 1979. Each issue includes large section on wine reviews and wine ratings, also feature articles on wine, grapes and regions, lifestyle, travel, cooking, and entertainment. 18 issues per year. Now by far most widely circulated wine magazine around 350,000 copies. | Started by Bob Morrisey, purchased by Marvin Shaken in 1979. Tasting panel includes Kim Marcus, Harvey Steiman, James Laube, Thomas Matthews, James Molesworth, Bruce Sanderson, James Suckling, and others. | 100 point scale – but only after already popularized by Parker and The Wine Advocate | |||
| 1981 | Wine & Spirits Magazine – Offer features and in-depth articles related to food and wine along with wine ratings, best-of-lists and buying guides. Current circulation around 75,000 and published eight times a year. Has won James Beard award five times for excellence in wine writing. | Current editors include Joshua Greene,Tara Q. Thomas, Wolfgang Weber, Patrick Comiskey, Peter Liem, and Patricio Tapia | 100 point scale | |||
| 1988 | Wine Enthusiast – Wine lifestyle magazine also covering food, travel, and entertainment. 14 issues per year, including annual restaurant awards and top 100 wine lists. The company also hosts annual “Toast of the Town” public wine tasting events in several major cities. Circulation around 100,000. | Founded by Adam Strum and Sybil Strum. Current editors Lauren Buzzeo, Tim Moriarty, Joe Czerwinski, Susan Kostrzewa, Erika Strum | 100 point scale | |||
| 1979 | Underground Wine Letter - Initially started by wine-loving financial advisor Dave Chapman focused on tasting notes, stories, restaurant reviews, jokes, etc. Handed over to John Tilson who popularized the publication by focusing on serious writing of the finest wines. Later changed to The Wine Journal, and then The Underground Wine Journal. | Dave Chapman, John Tilson | Initially 20 point scale. Changed to 100 point scale in 2000 using TASTE method. |
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| 1985 | The Wine News – Bimonthly magazine including tasting notes and recommendations based on collective opinions of panel of tasters, commentary on wine, writing on food and travel, photography, freelance wine news. Moderately influential with a circulation around 55,000. | Host of contributors. | 100 point scale | |||
| 2004 | CellarTracker – Online review and cellaring system, launched by former Microsoft employee Eric LeVine, to help enthusiasts manage their cellars and contribute to community ratings and reviews. CellarTracker has amassed the largest wine review database of consumer tasting notes and reviews. The site’s graphic design and interface are continually looked upon with distain while they continue to be the premier cellar-management system. |
Eric LeVine | 100 point scale | |||
| 2006 | Wine Library TV – Launched by Gary Vaynerchuk in 2006, Wine Library TV is a wine review video blog that has revolutionized the wine industry and had a profound impact on the critical evaluation of wine and social-media marketing. Gary has been referred to as the “Jim Cramer” of wine, due to his passionate and overly enthusiastic presentation. His unpretentious real-world style appeals to the masses. |
Gary Vaynerchuk | 100 point scale | |||
| 20 Point Rating Scales | ||||||
| 1959 | Davis Scoring System – Developed by Dr. Maynard Amerine, Professor of Enology at the University of California at Davis, a 20 point scale is published as a method of rating experimental wines produced by the university. The system has been widely used by professionals and academics and helped inspire other review systems. Notable issues with the system include the fact that an undrinkable wine can get a passing grade, some categories do not apply to all wines (e.g., astringency), and that it is tailored to detect defects, which are not as prevalent today. | Dr. Maynard Amerine and team. | 20 point scale | |||
| 1929 | La Revue du vin de France - Historic monthly wine publication said to be “France’s only serious wine magazine” by Jancis Robinson. Most popular European wine periodical with circulation around 50,000. |
Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve, longstanding wine writers left in 2004 after the magazine was acquired by Marie-Claire, citing differences in editorial direction. | 20 point scale | |||
| 1976 | Paris Wine Tasting – Wine competition in Paris organized by Steven Spurrier (British wine merchant in Paris). Blind tastings were conducted with chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon from France and California. California wines won in each category, and the results help catapult the prestige of new world wines. | Pierre Brejoux, Claude Dubois-Millot, Michel Dovaz, Patricia Gallagher, Odette Kahn, Raymond Oliver, Steven Spurrier, Pierre Tari, Christian Vanneque, Aubert de Villaine, Jean-Claude Vrinat | 20 point scale | |||
| 1964 | Los Angeles Times - Published articles and information primarily on California wines, but also some foreign. Chroman published weekly column, while Balzer wrote in Sunday magazine. | Nathan Chroman, Robert Lawrence Balzer |
20 point scale | |||
| 1973 | California Grapevine - Bi-monthly magazine primarily on wines from California with each publication focusing on several varietals and vintages. Includes commentary and ratings. Wines are tasted in flights of 6 to 12 of a specific style/varietal and comparatively ranked against each other from 1st to 12th. Limited circulation and consumer influence. | Nicholas Ponomareff | 20 point scale | |||
| Stars or Similar Scales | ||||||
| 1967 | The Sunday Times - Hugh Johnson served as wine columnist and travel editor of the Sunday Times, a Sunday newspaper in the UK. Hugh is one of the worlds best-selling wine writers and has published several of the most well-regarded wine books including Wine and The World Atlas of Wine. |
Hugh Johnson, later Jancis Robinson |
5 stars | |||
| 1998 | The Wall St. Journal - Wine writing started in March 1998 from husband and wife John Brecher and Dorothy J. Gaiter – appears weekly in Saturday’s Weekend Journal. Announced in Dec 26th “Tastings” column that the article would be their last. No explanation was given. | John Brecher and Dorothy J. Gaiter | Yech, OK, Good, Very Good, Delicious to Delicious! | |||
| 1972 | New York Times – Frank J. Prial was responsible for weekly Wine Talk column intended to de-mystify wine and focus on wine itself, rather than marketing, lingo, or labels. Is said to have been America’s most inviting wine writer of his time, and to have had great influence on the industry. | Frank J. Prial | 4 stars | |||
| 1975 | Decanter – British magazine not widely distributed in US as of 1979 (according to Tilson of Underground Wine Journal). Published in over 90 countries on a monthly basis. The magazine content includes news from the industry, vintage guides and wine recommendations. (source – Decanter, Wikipedia, The Underground Wine Letter). Circulation around 40,000. | Legends Harry Waugh, Michael Broadbent, Steven Spurrier, Hugh Johnson | 5 stars | |||
| 1974 | Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wine - Monthly publication that focuses on blind tastings on the wines of California. Started by Charles E. Olken and Earl Singer in 1974 and now acclaimed as one of the best sources of reviews and commentary on California wine. Circulation estimated at 7,000. | Initially Charles Olken & Earl Singer, now Charles Olken & associate editor Stephen Eliot | 3 puffs | |||
| 1972 | Robert Finigan’s Private Guide to Wine - Monthly newsletter reviewing European and California wine, including restaurants around San Francisco. The newsletter was consumer focused, independent and quickly became popular. Considered the precursor to Robert Parker by some. | Robert Finigan | Outstanding, Above Average, Average and Well Below Average. | |||
| 1986 | Gambero Rosso – Italian food and wine magazine founded in 1986 publishing an influential yearly guide to Italian wine, restaurants, and wine ratings. | Founded by Stefano Bonilli. | One to Three glasses | |||
| 2006 | Snooth – A social networking wine website that allows retailers throughout the US to sell wine directly to consumers. | Founded by Philip James | 5 stars | |||
| 2009 | WineMcGee – Local wine social network connecting people to wine around them. Features event listings, wine review functionality, wine talk, and questions and answers. | Founded by Michael Siegler | Thumbs Up, OK, Thumbs Down | |||
