System of Ranking
The ranking system will be the 20 point scale, which is a 10 point scale with the following guidelines: 10 = bad, 11 = poor, 12 = mediocre, 13 = adequate, 14 = fair, 15 = good, 16 = good +, 17 = very good, 18 = very good +, 19 = excellent, 20 = outstanding.

Awarding Medals
The medals awarded will follow the system used by the Decanter World Wine Awards and the Japan Wine Challenge: 14.5-15.4 = Commended; 15.5-16.9 = Bronze, 17-18.4 = Silver, 18.5 and above = Gold.

Judging Tables
Wines will be judged by tables of no fewer than 3 and no more than 4 judges. The wines will be judged blind in pre-selected flights of “like with like” wines – either varietal, region, vintage, price, or all of the above – of not more than 12 wines per flight. Each judge will complete the tasting sheet with a tasting note and a mark out of 20.

Once the table has finished, the table leader will ask for the rankings of all the wines and then each wine will be discussed, so that the table agrees on what award to give.

Addressing Score Variations
Discussing wines is most important, as if all four tasters give a wine 15 points, the result is 60/4 = 15, plainly a commended wine. But if there are two 13s and two 17s, the result is still 15, in this case but there are two no-awards and two silvers. The table has to re-taste and come to a conclusion.

If no agreement can be arrived at, the Chairman of the Competition is called in to make the final decision.

Service
The service staff will place the bottles on the table for each flight. The judges will pour their own wines. One glass for each wine will be provided as well as a water glass. Clean glasses will be provided whenever the colour or style of wine in the flights changes.

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