In this conversation, Holly Formosa interviews Katrina Butler, the Head of Tasting at Halliday Wine Companion. They discuss Katrina's role, the wine tasting and scoring process, the importance of submissions from wineries, and the distinction between editorial and commercial content. Katrina explains the criteria for various wine awards, including Winery of the Year, and shares insights on how the Companion is adapting to changes in the media landscape, including the expansion into spirits reviews.

Takeaways

• Katrina Butler is the Head of Tasting at Halliday Wine Companion.
• The tasting team is split into regions based on expertise.
• Wineries must submit wines to be included in reviews.
• The Companion is focused on consumer reviews, not trade.
• Editorial content is distinct from commercial content.
• Awards are based on both scores and qualitative discussions.
• The Companion is adapting to digital media and consumer preferences.
• New categories like 'wild card' celebrate unconventional wines.
• The Companion is expanding to include spirits reviews.
• The wine industry is evolving, and the Companion aims to support this growth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Halliday Wine Companion

01:47 Understanding the Tasting and Scoring Process

05:17 Score Inflation and Market Trends

08:48 Submission Process for Wineries

10:49 Editorial vs. Commercial Content

16:53 Awards and Recognition in the Wine Industry

20:20 Blind Tasting Process for Wine Awards

21:53 Major Awards and Their Selection Process

26:23 Understanding Winery of the Year Criteria

27:06 Best New Winery Award Explained

29:23 Consumer Focus vs. Trade in Wine Reviews

31:29 Adapting to Changing Media Landscape

33:34 Expanding into Spirits Review

36:52 Celebrating Australian Wine and Future Directions

37:32 Introduction and Initial Thoughts

40:02 Wine Pairings and Personal Preferences

40:16 Outro.wav