Blind Tasting: An Objective Approach Against Authority and Prejudice
Twelve Wines from Leading Korean Importers Go Head-to-Head
Kumyang's "Rapaura" Sauvignon Blanc Takes First Place with Top Score
"A delicious Sauvignon Blanc that stands out even in the golden age of Sauvignon Blanc." (Song Seungbae, liquor MD at 7-Eleven)
At the "2025 Global Wine and Food Trip" blind tasting event hosted by Asia Economy, Kumyang International's New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wine received the highest evaluation in the white wine category. The wine was praised as the perfect summer wine for anyone to enjoy refreshingly, thanks to its vibrant tropical fruit aromas characteristic of the variety, combined with powerful mineral notes.
The "2025 Global Wine and Food Trip," where a diverse selection of wines from around the world can be experienced in one place, was held on the 28th at the Marriott Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. Wine sommeliers from major distribution companies attending the event are conducting a blind tasting. 2025.08.28 Photo by Dongju Yoon
Blind Tasting: An Objective Evaluation Method Against Authority and Prejudice
"What makes a good wine? Which wine should I choose?"
Everyone has hesitated in front of the wine shelf when making a purchase. Faced with countless options, most consumers feel overwhelmed and intimidated. The diversity of wine is a double-edged sword: for some, it is the motivation to navigate the vast sea of wine for a lifetime, while for others, it is the very reason they hesitate to take the first step in exploring it.
The wine industry devised "blind tasting" as a way to address this hesitation. Blind tasting is a method where the wine label is concealed, and only the quality of the wine is evaluated. It is implemented to allow objective judgment of wine, free from the authority and prejudice associated with specific regions, brands, or vintages. Renowned British wine columnist Jamie Goode notes, "There is widely accepted and recognized knowledge about wine in the wine world," adding, "Such knowledge, built on intersubjectivity, helps to some extent overcome the difficulty that no individual can have exactly the same wine experience as another."
The "2025 Global Wine and Food Trip," where a diverse selection of wines from around the world can be experienced in one place, was held on the 28th at the Marriott Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. Wine sommeliers from major distribution companies attending the event are conducting a blind tasting. 2025.08.28 Photo by Dongju Yoon
Because wine evaluation is subjective, the "Aroma Wheel" flavor terminology system was introduced to address trust issues. This system replaced the comprehensive and symbolic language that evaluated wine as a whole and described its emotional impact, with clear descriptive language focused on the actual components of wine. Subjective expressions were replaced with objective and specific descriptions, and the introduction of a 100-point scoring system further enhanced trust in objectivity.
Twelve Wines from Leading Domestic Importers Go Head-to-Head
At the "2025 Global Wine and Food Trip," held on August 28 at the Marriott Executive Apartments in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul and hosted by Asia Economy, the highlight was also the "blind tasting." Now in its fourth year, the Global Wine and Food Trip featured participation from six major domestic wine importers: Shinsegae L&B, Kumyang International, Ayung FBC, Naracella, Kooksoondang, and hy.
The "2025 Global Wine and Food Trip," where a diverse selection of wines from around the world can be experienced in one place, was held on the 28th at the Marriott Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. Wine sommeliers from major distribution companies attending the event are conducting a blind tasting. 2025.08.28 Photo by Dongju Yoon
This blind tasting focused on wines of excellent quality but relatively low consumer awareness. Each of the six leading importers submitted what they considered a "hidden gem"-one white and one red wine from their extensive portfolios-for judging. Nine judges evaluated a total of twelve wines based on fair criteria. The wines submitted were priced around 50,000 won at major supermarkets, and importers were free to choose the grape variety and origin.
The judging followed the evaluation method of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), considering aspects such as appearance, aroma, taste, and balance, with each wine receiving a final score out of 100 points. To reduce the impact of outliers and accurately reflect the median, a "median statistics method" was used, and the final score was calculated as the average of the seven middle scores, excluding the highest and lowest scores among the nine judges.
The judging panel consisted of nine leading wine buyers from major domestic retail channels: Kim Minju, head sommelier at Shinsegae Department Store; Kyung Minseok, sommelier at Lotte Department Store; Namgoong Hyun, liquor MD at Hyundai Department Store; Myung Yongjin, liquor team leader at Emart; Kim Woong, liquor team leader at Lotte Mart; Choi Hyemin, liquor MD at Homeplus; Shin Yonghyun, wine MD at GS Retail; Jang Inhye, wine MD at BGF Retail; and Song Seungbae, liquor MD at 7-Eleven.
The "2025 Global Wine and Food Trip," where a diverse selection of wines from around the world can be experienced in one place, was held on the 28th at the Marriott Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. A participant at the event is tasting wine. 2025.08.28 Photo by Yoon Dongju
Kumyang's "Rapaura" Sauvignon Blanc... Takes First Place with Top Score
The highest-scoring wine in the white wine category at this blind tasting was Kumyang International's "Rapaura Springs Bull Paddock Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2024," which received an average score of 84.43 points. This wine is a Sauvignon Blanc from the Rapaura Springs winery in Marlborough, New Zealand, made with grapes grown at the Bull Paddock Vineyard in Dillon's Point, Wairau Valley-considered one of the top sites in Marlborough. The wine's mineral notes were particularly impressive.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, currently the most popular variety in Korea, also received high marks from the judges. Kyung Minseok, sommelier, described it as "a classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a refreshing white wine perfect for summer," while Myung Yongjin, liquor team leader, said, "The distinctive flavors of Sauvignon Blanc are impressive, and it's a great wine to enjoy chilled on a hot day, even without food." As for food pairings, Kim Minju, sommelier, suggested that it would pair well with popular dishes such as baeksundae (Korean white blood sausage), and many also mentioned white fish like flatfish and light salads.
Three Chardonnay wines were submitted for this judging, with Naracella's "Calera Central Coast Chardonnay 2022" receiving the highest score of 83.71 points. This is a medium-bodied wine from California's Central Coast, aged in French oak. Its alcohol content is relatively high at 14.5%. The wine is made from grapes harvested from top vineyards in various origins within the Central Coast, such as Monterey and Santa Barbara, and showcases the vibrant charm of classic Chardonnay grown in a cool climate.
Overall, the consensus was that the wine achieved a harmonious balance of restrained richness, beautiful minerality, and bright citrus fruit flavors. Namgoong Hyun, MD, commented, "The fruit aromas blend well with the right acidity, and the wine's balanced structure is impressive." Shin Yonghyun, MD, noted, "The aromas become more expressive with the acidity, which is very appealing." Jang Inhye, MD, recommended it as a wine that pairs well with a variety of foods, especially Asian cuisine, while Kim Minju, sommelier, said, "It is expected to pair well with stone fruit salads or light appetizers, and would also go well with jeon (Korean savory pancakes)."
Kooksoondang's "Markus Molitor Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett 2021" was also praised for showcasing the unique charm of Riesling, receiving an average score of 82.57 points. It was the only German wine and the only Riesling variety submitted for this tasting, with the lowest alcohol content at 9%. Markus Molitor is a renowned producer in the Mosel region of Germany and is known as the German winery that wine critic Robert Parker has awarded the most 100-point scores.
Kim Minju, sommelier, highly praised it, saying, "The harmony of Riesling's characteristic petrol notes, exotic spices, and sweet fruit acidity is captivating, and compared to Rieslings of similar value, its structural appeal is outstanding." Kyung Minseok, sommelier, called it "a classic Riesling with a good balance of residual sugar and acidity," and Namgoong Hyun, MD, said, "It seems like a wine that would sell easily." Myung Yongjin, team leader, commented, "Its moderate sweetness makes it a good match for Korean dishes with strong seasoning," and other judges also mainly recommended pairing it with seasoned Korean or Chinese cuisine.
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