Should you trust wine reviews when purchasing your next bottle? The answer may be complicated

If you enjoy having a glass of Cabernet or Sauvignon Blanc on the weekend, you may be looking for new variants to try during your next trip to the store. While browsing the aisle for the perfect glass to go with your dinner tonight or a bottle to impress your friends at your housewarming party, you may be wondering whether you should trust those online reviews you read before coming to your local liquor store.

When reading reviews online or in magazines, you may be curious if these reviews are credible. Who reviews the bottles of Pinot? Are the reviews done by sommeliers, or are they done by housewives with some free time?

Let’s see if you should really trust these reviews when heading to the store to purchase your next bottle. Through this article, you will understand more about the wine industry and wineries, especially California Wineries.

Should you trust wine reviews?

When looking at wine reviews to see what is best for your next red or white wine purchase at the store, the answer can vary. The main factor determining if you should follow the reviews’ advice is the source of the review. Did you read the rating in a magazine, or did you read it in a sommelier’s article online?

Instead of following reviews based on random people who may not have enough experience, listening to wine reviews published in incredible wine magazines or online websites, like Californiawineryadvisor.com or similar places, helps you determine the credibility and reputation of those doing the tasting.

How do wine ratings work?

When analyzing if you should trust wine reviews, you should first know how wine ratings are calculated. Wine ratings are based on a 100-point system that is the “gold standard” for the wine industry. On this scale, wines start at 50, with most wine lists only including brands and bottles that score over the 80 mark on the scale.

• 50-59 wines are not drinkable and taste like they have been made improperly
• 60-69 wines are drinkable but not enjoyable
• 70-79 wines are average
• 80-84 wines are above average
• 85-90 wines are good
• 90-94 wines are exceptional
• 95-100 wines are the benchmark standard for wine production

Can I use wine review apps?

In addition, there is a new technology that can help clueless wine shoppers pick a new bottle for their tasting pleasure. If you are a new wine drinker, you can try one of the latest iOS or Android apps that are compatible with all smartphones on the market today to make your trip to the liquor store quick and painless.

There are numerous choices on the app stores nowadays. All of these apps help wine shoppers compare bottles, compare prices, read reviews, and pair food and wine for their nightly dinner.

Conclusion

So, to answer the question of if you should trust wine reviews, the answer is complicated. You need to see where the wine reviews are coming from, who is reviewing, if the reviewer uses the gold standard wine scale and the reliability of any smartphone apps for reading reviews. The best case is to follow wine magazines, wine websites, and articles written by sommeliers who have extensive knowledge in the field.