How do wine guides work?

By: Laura Conde, journalist

Wine guides have been a familiar feature of the sector for decades. For many consumers, they serve as a reference point when choosing a bottle; for wineries and professionals, they're another way of improving awareness and positioning. They also provide a good snapshot of an industry that's somewhat unpredictable, in which each vintage differs from the last.

However, it's not always clear how they work, what lies behind a score or how their results should be interpreted. In general terms, wine guides are created with the aim of bringing order to a huge and complex market, offering a comparative evaluation of thousands of references based on the judgement of one or more professional tasters. Here are some of the most prestigious guides. 

The Wine Advocate

Robert Parker is an American lawyer who, back in the 1970s, began writing wine reviews. He says that his passion dates back to a trip to Europe during his student days, when he realised that not only was there more wine culture on the Old Continent but that wines were inexpensive, whereas in the United States their prices were (and still are) prohibitive. This led him to found The Baltimore-Washington Wine Advocate, which in 1979 became today's The Wine Advocate. 

Enjoying a white wine by Familia Torres

Its impact was particularly notable from the 1980s and 1990s onwards, when its scores began to influence the international market. Parker opted for a rigorous tasting system and a detailed description of each wine, providing a lot of consumers with greater insight into what they were drinking. Over time, the team of tasters has expanded and diversified, maintaining a professional methodology based on blind tastings and extensive knowledge of the regions they analyse. 

The scoring system uses a 100-point scale, an approach widely accepted by most guides. Although each publication has its own particular features, the overall scheme tends to be similar, assessing aspects such as aromatic quality, balance on the palate, structure, persistence and, in some cases, ageing potential. When a wine is rated higher than a certain score, in Parker's case over 90, it's considered to be clearly above average. 

Guía Peñín: the reference in Spain

The Guía Peñín is probably the most consulted guide in the Spanish market. Founded by José Peñín in 1990, its strength lies in the large number of wines tasted each year, making it a very useful tool for gaining an overview of Spain's wine scene. In addition to scores, it also provides contextual information on wineries, regions and styles.

As in the Parker Guide, wines are scored from 1 to 100 points and those rated above 90 are always excellent. A gold star indicates quality and looking for wines with this star can be a good way to find those offering superb value for money, even ahead of others with higher scores. 

Tasting a red wine by Familia Torres

Guía Vinos Gourmets 2026

This publication has reached its 41st issue, reaffirming its role as one of Spain's leading wine publications, faithful to its philosophy of blind tastings and independent criteria that has remained intact since its inception. Unlike other guides based on a single stable team, its ratings come from a tasting panel made up of different professionals (sommeliers, oenologists, specialised journalists and tasters) which provides a diversity of criteria and a broader view of the market. Beyond the number of wines tasted, this latest issue offers new features and improved content, with a comprehensive update of wine regions, wineries and wines available on the market.

Tim Atkin

Tim Atkin MW is one of the most influential people in wine journalism. His articles, organised by country or appellation, combine tastings, travel and interviews with winegrowers to offer a realistic overview of each region. Beyond the scores, he analyses styles, trends, generational changes and climatic challenges, and includes rankings such as Top 100 Wines and Best Value Wines. This renowned British Master of Wine writes regularly for leading media outlets such as The Times, The Guardian and The Wall Street Journal, and is known for his direct, approachable style that connects well with the new generations of consumers. 

Wine Spectator

One of the world's best-known and most prestigious wine magazines. Founded in 1976 in the United States, it publishes reviews, ratings and articles on wines, wine regions, trends and wine culture. Its guides and lists, such as the Top 100 Wines of the Year, are highly influential in the market and its ratings can significantly affect the demand and price of wines

A bottle of Malpastor wine plus some poured into a glass

Decanter

Decanter is also one of the most important wine magazines in the United Kingdom and the world. Founded in 1975, it publishes articles, reviews and ratings on wines from all regions, as well as news, interviews and reports on industry trends. It's known for its wine guides, rankings and international competitions, as well as for its influence on the market and on the perception of wineries and wines. It compiles lists such as the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), which are highly respected internationally.