It’s a fact in the wine world that every few months someone feels compelled to launch a tirade against the 100-point scoring scale. Normally the article or blog post contains a few well-placed jabs at Mr. Parker and Mr. Laube and the ensuing commentary churns into a final exclamation that “like it or not, we are stuck with it!”
Many times the 100-point scale debate also leads to a discussion about the importance (or lack thereof) of wine bloggers, many of whom use their own system to rate wines, whether that be the use of stars, lower point scales or grades.
For a retailer, points do make it easier to sell wine—that is, when the points are high. When the scores are low and the wine is actually good—something we see when we taste it here at Vinfolio—well, that can be a challenge. But then, this is why Vinfolio hires certified wine experts to help customers navigate the vast sea of wine that is available to them. This includes those wines that perform far above their critical score. When customers buy wine directly online, we hope they read the tasting notes to glean the true character of a low scoring wine, but we all know that this doesn’t always happen. So how do we solve this problem?
Recently, I was intrigued by a concept that seems to be taking hold among many bloggers: the wine badge. Essentially these badges are way to describe a wine quickly using a series of graphic badges that include catchy two-to-three word phrases consumers can relate to quickly. For example, who hasn’t heard a wine described as a “crowd pleaser?” Most of us instantly understand that the wine is not extremely complex, but because of its inherent easy going character, it is a safe bet to serve at a party because a majority of those who drink it will enjoy it. What would you think if you saw a wine rated with a badge that read “Supermarket Surprise?”
While I’m not sure if this new system of badges will replace the 100-point scale, I do think it is a useful way to educate consumers about wine and to take the fear out of asking questions or trying something different. And, since the badge concept has taken off in social media circles, a la Foursquare, I can see this new way of reviewing wine taking hold with the next generation of wine drinkers.
And let’s not forget about the potential influence of the wine blogging community. Could it be that this quiet revolution toward the use of badges will increase the influence and perceived legitimacy of bloggers? This could happen, especially if they adopt a uniform standard, but I guess only time will tell. What do you think about the wine badge? Quiet revolution or inconsequential fad?
Check out what bloggers are saying about the wine badge:
Notes from the Cellar
Drinknectar
