About The Lodi International Wine Awards
The Lodi International Wine Awards is a new, unique and rather revolutionary concept
in wine judging and evaluation. It is a collaboration between wine experts and sensory
scientists and employs a new method of wine assessment that will make it easy for
wine consumers to discover the wines they truly prefer.
The Lodi International Wine judging will take place March 11th and 12th. 2008 in Lodi,
California using tasting methodology based upon research and procedures developed by Drs. Michael O'Mahony, Rie Ishii, University of California, Davis, and Tim Hanni,
MW.
Background
When wines are evaluated and judged, awards are often given to the biggest, boldest
and most assertive/.This is problematic and troublesome for many. While big ,more
assertive 'monster' wines stand out in a crowd, more delicate and elegant wines
-- equally as good -- may not score well at all and be lost.
The Lodi International wine awards is the first and only judging to use a new evaluation
methodology that takes into account issues of flavor distortion and palate fatigue
that often occurs at tastings and judgings where many wines are evaluated over a
long and extended session.
The Lodi International Wine Awards differentiates among three principal categories or segments based on sensory sensitivity, wine value/rating systems and stylistic preferences.
- -- Tolerant tasters -- who tend to favor dry, high-intensity, assertive wines.
- -- Sensitive tasters -- the median group with a rather broad range of preferences.
- -- Hyper-sensitive tastes -- who tend to have an aversion to bitterness and favor
delicacy over intensity. They often prefer some degree of sweetness in their wines.
Balanced Judging Panels
Each and every judge participating in The Lodi International wine awards judging
will be individually screened to identify his or her taste sensitivity and values.
Each of the many wine tasting panels will be organized to include equal numbers
of judges from each of the three sensitivity groups, Tasting and evaluation methodology
will be based on scientific research and procedures led by Drs. Michael O’Mahony
and Rie Ishi, UC Davis and Tim Hanni, MW and includes:
- Issues of flavor distortion caused by sensory adaptation as the result of tasting
wines one after another.
- Results that most often cannot be replicated when duplicate wines are tasted by
another different body of judges
Scoring And Judging Inconsistency And Disagreements Among The Experts
The Lodi International Wine Awards recognizes and celebrates the fact each of us has unique physiological and sensory differences which profoundly affect our wine and food
preferences.
The judging process is based upon on-going sensory research enables awards from
a number of stylistic points of view. Then, consumers will be able to “get their
buds done” through a simple on-line questionnaire using a simple set of questions
and a graphic device called a BUDOMETER. They can then review and purchase those
award winning wines that meet their sensory preferences and values.
The Lodi International Wine Awards recognizes, rewards and recommends a broad spectrum
of wine styles -- from the sweet and fruity to dry, delicate and restrained, to
the powerful and intensely flavored.
Wines from the United States and Canada will be assessed by balanced panels of experienced
judges chosen from each of the sensitivity segments. The merit of each wine will
be appraised and then correlated to taste preferences and shared values of consumers.
Tracking Our Results - Special Software Programs
Wines tasted, evaluated and scored will be tracked by special computer software
developed specifically for that purpose. Results can then be analyzed by segment
criteria. The data analysis team will be led by Dr. Hildegarde Heymann, UC Davis.
What About Consumers?
Consumers will be able to identify those wines that appeal specifically to their
own unique taste preferences on this website. Under development is a simple consumer
questionaire and graphic device called a “BUDOMETER.” By answering a few questions,
consumers will be able to identify his or her individual tasting segment and then
find and purchase those award - winning wines that best meet his or her sensory
preferences and values.
Sponsors To Carry The Wines
This website will also feature special restaurant, e-tail and retail sponsors that
carry many of the award winning wines from different categories
On-going Research And Development
The Lodi International Wine Awards will be creating and fielding on-going sensory
research to help improve the quality and reliability of future wine judgings. The
results will generate rich data of value to the wine and food industry. These data
will be made available free of charge to participating wineries and sponsors and
will be available to others for a nominal fee.
Why Lodi?
The Lodi Tokay Rotary Club, Lodi, California sought an innovative way to raise monies
for local charities as well as raise awareness of Lodi as a unique and quality-
driven wine growing region. The club is therefore underwriting this unique competition
and is hosting and providing volunteers for the event.