Wine scores and ratings explained

When looking for a new bottle of wine, you might see that a Barossa Valley Shiraz has been labelled a Gold award winner or that an Adelaide Hills Chardonnay has scored ’95 points’. But what does this mean?

In the wine industry, recognition of a wine’s quality can come from many sources – from wine critics, wine magazines and blogs, wine competitions and wine drinkers’ reviews. Wine may be given points via one of the well-established wine rating systems and can also receive awards in regional, national or worldwide competitions.

A high point score or award from a respected organisation or critic can be a dependable mark of quality, making it easier for wine lovers to choose their next delicious bottle of red, white or rosé.

So, what exactly do ratings and awards tell us – and are there other ways to find a great bottle of wine?

Wine ratings explained

There are a number of widely recognised wine rating schemes, but the top three rating schemes are the 100-point system, the 20-point system and the 5-point system.

100-point system

The 100-point wine rating system has become one of the most popular international scoring methods. It was first introduced by the influential wine critic Robert Parker in the 1970s and is based on the grading system used in American schools.

Wine critics, magazines and highly respected competitions, such as the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards, use the 100-point system.

This rating system judges wines based on several factors. Wines are awarded 50 points simply for being a wine, but points are also given for colour and appearance (up to 5 points), aromas and bouquet (up to 15 points), flavour and finish (up to 20 points) and overall quality (up to 10 points).

Here’s an outline of the categories and what they typically indicate:

• 96-100 – Outstanding quality or classic examples of a wine

• 90-95 – Superior to exceptional quality

• 85-89 – Good to very good quality

• 80-84 – Above average to good quality

• 70-79 – Average quality wine with some faults

• Below 70 – Below average in quality and not recommended

20-point system

The 20-point wine rating system was created for academic purposes in 1959 by Dr. Maynard A. Amerine and his team at the University of California, Davis.

This system judges wines based on ten categories, including taste and texture, aroma and bouquet and overall Impression. It’s used by wine competitions, wine societies and critics. Scores are typically clustered in the upper range of the scale (between 15 and 20).

The scoring allows half points, and the rating can typically indicate the following:

• 17-20 – Very good to outstanding

• 15-16 – Average to good

• 12-13 - Borderline to standard quality

• 9-12 – Commercially acceptable but with faults

• Below 9 – Not recommended

5-point system

The 5-point (or 5-star) wine rating system is generally used by review websites, magazines and wine guides. It’s simple, intuitive and can feel familiar as it’s a common rating system used by other industries.

Wine is scored according to the reviewer’s perception of its quality alongside their personal preferences. This means it relies on subjective personal opinions, which can vary greatly.

While there’s no official standard for what each point represents, a typical breakdown would be:

• 5 – Outstanding

• 4 – Very good or excellent

• 3 – Meets expectations or good

• 2 – Fair or below expectations

• 1 – Poor, with significant flaws

Wine awards

Alongside ratings, wines can be awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals or awards.

Typically given out in wine competitions and at wine shows, these awards more clearly indicate superior quality in wine.

The meanings of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards can vary depending on the competition’s specific criteria. Generally, Gold awards are given to the most exceptional wines, Silver awards are given to excellent bottles and Bronze signifies wines of very good quality.

Winning an award adds credibility and shows that a panel of judges has rigorously tested a wine.

How else can I choose the best wines?

Ratings and awards are excellent for giving you peace of mind that the wine is of high quality. However, also consider what makes the perfect bottle of wine for your personal tastes.

Online customer ratings and review platforms can give you valuable insight into the taste and character of a wine you’re considering.

You could also research the opinions of respected wine experts, such as John Lehmann and James Halliday, for insights. They can provide professional, detailed reviews that are based on years of knowledge and experience.

Talk directly to wine merchants, too – our personal wine advisors have a wealth of wine knowledge, so why not get in touch? Let us know what your personal wine preferences are, and we can point you in the direction of some delicious options.

Discover our full range of premium red wines and white wines.