March 23, 2021

Platinum! Gold! Silver! Bronze!

In this week's “Office Hours,” we’ll discuss all things wine competitions. From medals and “Bests” to who decides what wines get tasted and by whom, Rich Cook, a director of several important stops on the circuit—and a sometimes judge himself—will answer our questions about this rapidly growing business. Even in the face of COVID, the competitions must go on! 

Do the results of competitions really matter? Full disclosure: Oceano wines have won their fair share of “Bests” and medals. We’ll discuss the impact that an award can have on a winery, and whether you the consumer are served (or harmed) by the hype. This subject is especially timely given the recent death of Steven Spurrier, the organizer of the Paris Tasting of 1976 that pitted wines from California against those from Burgundy and Bordeaux. This was arguably the most important competition up to that time and perhaps ever, so much so that it resulted in a Time Magazine cover story.

Tuesday, March 23rd at 7pm ET on Facebook Live and YouTube.