How is wine rated?
The standard wine rating system uses a 100-point scale. Wine critic and writer Robert Parker began using this scale in the 1980s to establish an easier way to communicate a wine's value to its audience. Today, critics, competitions and consumers worldwide rely on this wine point system to represent a wine's quality. Wines on the higher end of the scale, meaning 90 points and above, are considered excellent examples of their varietal, style and region. Wines that rank between 89–80 are still well-made, high-quality wines but lack the extra wow factor to boost them into 90 point territory. Wines that fall below 75 points are drinkable but seen as mediocre or unexciting in terms of flavor profile and complexity.
How can I tell if a wine is good?
Not every wine has a rating. With over 30 billion bottles produced yearly, it makes sense that only some wines will make it to a competition table or critic's glass. Beyond price, learning how to read a wine label can be extremely useful when choosing a wine. The same goes for understanding what you like and don't like. Just because a wine has a high rating doesn't mean it falls within your flavor preference. Understanding how to taste and assess wine can help you identify your favorite wine styles, regions and varietals.