THE RACKET OF THIRD PARTY ENDORSEMENTS - GOLD MEDALS TO INFLUENCE THE GULLIBLE

The Owl is not sure where the Rosalia Prosecco won its gold medals. The picture does not show us. Presumably it is the same place that delivered the 95 points - the Prosecco Masters, a nice little earner of a competition run by the tiny trade publication "the drinks business." I call it a nice little earner because the makers pay 140 pounds to enter and the drinks business runs any number of them:

BY GRAPE (100% VARIETAL)

The Global Chardonnay Masters

The Global Pinot Noir Masters

The Global Riesling Masters

The Global Pinot Grigio Masters

BLENDS (MIN 50% VARIETAL)

The Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters

The Global Syrah Masters

The Global Malbec Masters

The Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters

BY STYLE

The Global Rosé Masters:

The best still and sparkling rosés will be judged by style and price exclusively. The goal of this tasting is to identify the best rosés from all around the world in every price range. The wines are categorised by oaked/unoaked and by their sugar level.

The Global Sparkling Masters:

The Global Sparkling Masters will judge sparkling wines made in a wide variety of styles. The wines will be judge by production method (traditional, tank/charmat, transfer method and carbonation method) and by their sugar level.

The Global Fortified Masters:

The Fortified Masters will reward the best fortified wines on offer. The wines will be judged blind by a panel of high regarded judges known for their expertise in the fortified wine sector.

The Global Organic Masters:

Organic wines have entered the mainstream in recent years as a popular choice for consumers, and this has been reflected in an increase in production around the world. The Global Organic Masters judge certified wines from around the world, and are open to all styles of wine.

BY REGION

The Prosecco Masters:

The competition reflects the growth in popularity of this fresh and exciting sparkling wine from the picturesque regions of Veneto and Friuli. The wines are judged by appellation: DOC, DOCG, DOCG Cartizze and by sugar level.

The Champagne Masters:

The Champagne Masters is the only Champagne blind tasting in the UK, the competition will reward the best wines in the following categories:

• Non-vintage
• Vintage
• Blanc de blancs
• Blanc de noirs
• Rosé
• Prestige Cuvée
• Alternative grapes varieties
• Design & Packaging

The Rioja Masters:

The competition recognises and rewards the finest Rioja. A panel of leading industry experts will judge the wines submitted in a blind tasting, to discover the best wines of this incredible region in six categories:
• Joven
• Crianza
• Reserva
• Gran Reserva
• Vinos de autor
• Rioja 15 years and older

But wait. There's more. the drinks business has a Hong Kong based site as well. So there's a second chance to pick up a medal from a different set of judges in the Asian Masters Awards.
And if you fail to get a gong in either of those, don't despair. There are now countless web and print publications giving out medals and points with gay abandon where the aim is to encourage wine makers to stick something on their bottles.

See the Owl's earlier story

THE RACKET OF THIRD PARTY ENDORSEMENTS - GOLD MEDALS TO INFLUENCE THE GULLIBLE