Be a Wine Judge For a Day

Feb. 20, 2015 — Judging at the Consumer Wine Awards is a unique opportunity for average wine consumers to have their say, and in the words of Tim Hanni, co-founder of CWA “to break the tyranny of wine critics”.
Becoming an Evaluator at the next Consumer Wine Awards scheduled for April 11 in Sacramento, California, is not only a day of fun, but also an exploration of the myths surrounding food and wine pairings. You’ll be amazed, and very possibly perplexed, when many of the facts we hold dear are exploded. Tim has a way of simply demonstrating the fallacies perpetuated by the wine industry and why change is needed. For those of us who insist steak tastes better with a big red wine, it is really quite annoying! Be prepared to be surprised and maybe just a tad humbled to find out just how right he is.

Our tastes in wine have nothing to do with sophistication, education, a large wallet or lack thereof. It is all about our palate and really comes down to the number of tastes buds we have. Our palates are as unique to us as every other body part. Research shows that sweet wine drinkers have the best acuity, something most critics and “experts” do not readily embrace.

Tim Hanni, one of the first two Americans to achieve the title Master of Wine is also a Certified Wine Educator accredited by the Society of Wine Educators and a trained chef. He has spent more than 35 years studying sensory sciences and why we like what we like. There is a science behind what you prefer to eat and drink. Our individual, physiological sensory sensitivity can vary dramatically. His book “Why You Like The Wines You Like: Changing the way the world thinks about wine” explains all this in detail and a signed copy will be given to each Evaluator at the April 11 tasting.
So what kind of wines the Evaluators will taste? Well, for starters, there will be 800 to 1000 wines representing every imaginable flavor and style from around the USA and many foreign countries. Below is the list of 26 categories that you can choose from when you sign up. As Tim Hanni says, “These are the wines that the trained experts and critics ignore or dismiss, but our program offers a great means to rise above the ‘tyranny of the minority’ that focuses on a tiny number of wine regions and styles.”

In addition to the tasting session, participating Evaluators are invited to a seminar that explores Vinotypes and the myths and misinformation about wine with food. The theme is “Matching wine to the diner, not the dinner”. Having attended a similar session last year, we guarantee it will be an eye-opener as well as very entertaining. Tim Hanni is an amusing and engaging speaker. It is possible to attend the seminar without being an Evaluator. For more information go to: www.consumerwineawards.com

If you want to Evaluate wines, consumers only (no professionals) apply at http://www.consumerwineawards.com/apply/

As noted above, this is for consumers and members of the wine industry need not apply. We’ll be there, but our votes won’t be counted!

For out-of-towners, hotel deals will be available and published shortly.

There are only 200 spots open for Evaluators so hurry up and register. If you can’t make it in April, save the date for June 6 for The Grape Escape & Consumer Wine Awards Celebration – expecting 4,000 people, 100 wineries, food and lots of fun, again in Sacramento.

CWA 2015 wine categories 2-19-15

Ports, other fortified and sweet/late harvest Zinfandel and other red wines

Sweet red table wines a hot category and we need some people who love them!

Sherry, Madeira, Vermouth and specialty flavored wines

Honey wines and Mead

Sweet sparkling wines

Dry sparkling wines – Blanc de Blanc, Brut

Really sweet wines! Ice wines and Sweet/Late-Harvest Riesling, Muscat, White blend or generics, Vidal, Vinifera Red blends,

White Zinfandel, Muscat/Moscato, Medium Sweet rose, along with berry and fruit wines

Off-dry Riesling, Chenin blanc and a bunch of other slightly sweet white and rose wines

Sauvignon Blanc, White Bordeaux style blends including white Meritage;

Riesling, plus a fascinating mixed bag of mostly dry white varietals