Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a reliable way of knowing the quality of a wine just by looking at the label?  A stamp of quality, so to speak, that is up to date and reliable and based directly on the quality of the wine in one particular vintage, not just on the Terroir or the location of the vineyard from where the grapes originate.  Well, in Burgundy there is such a stamp of quality – this highly sought after prize is called Le Tastevinage.

One Saturday morning in the spring of each year, two weeks before the Easter break, a group of distinguished and prominent wine industry experts meet to judge the year’s new wines.  Their brief is to judge the latest harvest in a blind tasting with the aim of selecting the best wines that truly represent the characteristics of the wines' districts, or appellations, for that particular year.

The blind tasting is organised by the ‘Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin’ or Tastevinage Committee.  It is important to stress that the individuals whom make up the committee do not take part in the judging.  Their role is to facilitate the event, select the judges and to ensure fair play throughout.

During the annual event about fifty tables of between five to seven jurors each taste their way through fifteen wines.  The jurors know only the appellation and the year of the wine.  They have no knowledge of the grower or négociant in this blind tasting.  The samples are presented in a proposed tasting order by the committee, from light to fullest, youngest to oldest.  However, the jurors are free to change the serving order if they wish.  The jurors collectively pass judgement on each wine.  If they feel a wine is of outstanding quality for the district and vintage they may award the wine “Le Tastevinage” stamp.  The jurors decision is final and there is no system of appeal.  The goal of the Tastevinage committee is two fold.  Firstly to acknowledge and reward growers and négociants whom excel in the quality of their creation and secondly to give a reliable stamp of quality on which the consumer can rely.

The three hundred or so jury members are made up of prominent representatives of the wine industry including: journalists, restaurateurs, growers, négociants, brokers and oenologists amongst others.  All verdicts are carefully recorded and samples of each wine are scientifically tested and retained to prove authenticity of each wine.  Standards are very high both in terms of the controls to which the judging adheres and also in the quality of wines that receive an award.  The jurors must err on the side of caution, if in doubt.  A good wine may not get the deserved recognition, but a bad wine will never get an award if undeserved, claim the Committee.

Wines that do make the grade are relabelled with the Bourgogne Tastevinage label, making them instantly recognisable to the consumer.  The labels are uniquely numbered and are permitted only to be used for the vintage and wine to which it was awarded – making each wine that receives the award a limited edition wine.

Of all the awards and accolades that I have stumbled across, Le Tastevinage is one of the few on which I would comfortably rely.  Long may their work continue!