Winepress - September 2024

Learning and judging

Sam Kim, guest judge at the Marlborough Wine Show, still loves the job after all these years

BEV DOOLE

LIKE WINEMAKING, being an awards judge is a bit of a balancing act. “You can’t be too dogmatic, but you still need to be confident,” says Sam Kim, one of two guest judges announced for the Marlborough Wine Show in October.

It’s been about 10 years since Sam judged the Marlborough Wine Show and he’s looking forward to returning. “The Marlborough industry is well established now but it’s always in constant motion. I’m looking forward to talking to winemakers and looking at new vintages.

“People overseas often say Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc all tastes the same but as judges we highlight the subtle sub-regional differences and the vintages. The Marlborough show is a terrific concept with the Legacy Class highlighting how some of these wines can age beautifully.”

The other guest judge is wine writer and educator Elaine Chukan Brown from the USA, who is heading to Blenheim after being a key-note speaker at the Chardonnay Symposium in Hawke’s Bay.

Between them, they have decades of judging experience. Sam says it can be a struggle to stay fresh. “I’ve cut back from seven to about three wine shows a year. It can be arduous, the travel, and tasting 140 wines a day. At the end of it you’re buggered, but the positives are so valuable as a professional. I like to meet the winemakers and judges - they have different opinions, different way of looking at things, so it’s always a learning experience.

“Whether you’re a winemaker or wine writer, you need to be constantly fine-tuning your palate, fine-tuning your ideas. I still love it.”

Wine Show key dates

Entries Close: September 4

Samples due: September 20

Judging: October 2-4

Medal winners notified: October 9

Long lunch and trophies: October 18 marlboroughwineshow.com