🍷 Wine critic

A wine critic is a person who tastes wines and writes assessments of them. A critic describes taste and smell, explains what is good or bad about a wine, and often gives scores. Critics work for newspapers, magazines, websites and social media.

The best-known scale is the 100-point one, where a wine receives from 50 to 100 points. There are also 20-point scales and star ratings. A score helps buyers compare wines. Many decide what to buy on the basis of scores. That is why the opinion of well-known critics can influence prices.

A critic is not the same as a sommelier or a Master of Wine. A sommelier works in a restaurant and advises guests. A Master of Wine is a title for a professional who has passed very hard exams. Critics often write about wine, but their profession is assessment and storytelling.

Taste is subjective. A critic's opinion is useful as a guide, but everyone may have their own preferences. The best wine is the one you like.