Welcome to the inaugural posting for Midwest Wine Review!
WHY? Great wines are being skillfully crafted in nontraditional locations, places such as: Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Visit most any wine retailer in the heartland and you'll be inundated with shelves lined with California wines and those from far-away lands. More frequently these days you're likely to find locally made wines in these same stores!
For many, "local wines" are synonymous with low quality. While that may have been the case in the past, today's local wineries are crafting wines of extraordinary quality.
How to Choose: Traditional wine regions are favored by the large monthly wine fan magazines that highlight the best of the best (typically California-centric); unfortunately many local wine enthusiasts are left to fend for themselves.
That's where Midwest Wine Review hopes to come in!
Midwest Wine Review will review, score and discuss the wines from the heartland. Using highly skilled wine industry professionals (e.g., Sommeliers, Wine Science/Service instructors, and Wine Competition Judges) each quarter, Midwest Wine Review will focus on a particular wine variety/cultivar and systematically and critically evaluate those wines.
Wines will be evaluated blind, that is to say, only the varietal and residual sugar levels will be known to the judges. (MWR staff will not identify wineries, states, regions, or AVA to the panel of judges prior to or during judging). Judges will individually taste, critique and evaluate each wine separately (written); and then, after each flight of wines, the judging panel will discuss.
Judge sensory analysis notes, personal scores, and group scores, will be collected; final scores and consensus review notes will be compiled and reported on this site.
Scores below 83 (a "B" or Bronze award level) will not be reported to the public and not shared on this site. Wineries are encouraged to report the findings from the Midwest Wine Review on their websites, social media, and use as "table talkers" for public displays.
Scoring and Defining Qualities:
98-100 Spectacular— Flawless wine; epitome of varietal expression; Reflects highest quality standards equivalent to Sweepstakes nominees and awards, and Double Gold medal and/or Best of Show recognition; Rare and transcendent wine. Top 3%
94-97 Exceptional— Wine of exceptional quality; excellent and highlights the best expression of varietal characteristics Reflects very high standards of quality; equivalent to Gold medal; Excellent wine. Top 6%
90-93 Great— Praiseworthy wines; Wines expressing varietal characteristics to high degree; Reflects professional standards; equivalent to Silver Medal; Great wine. Top 10%
87-89 Sterling— Wine of very good quality; Varietal characteristics expressed; well-balanced and harmonious; Reflects high standards; equivalent to Bronze+ medal; Very good wine. Top 13%
83-86 Select— Wine of good quality; Some varietal expression; balanced; equivalent to Bronze; good wine. Top 17%
FUTURE PLANS: Currently, we are in the process of identifying trained and knowledgeable wine industry professionals to volunteer their expertise to this important effort. If you are interested and possess critical wine sensory analysis expertise, please email Brad Johnson, Winedustry Editor - Brad@winedustry.com - www.winedustry.com
