If you're exploring different wines, attending wine tasting events in Singapore can help you discover what you actually enjoy.
And sometimes, when choosing a bottle, many people instinctively search for wine ratings, wine scores, or online wine reviews.
A quick glance at a 90+ rating can feel reassuring. It suggests the wine is “good”, perhaps even exceptional.
But here’s something most wine lovers eventually discover:
The best wine for you isn’t always the highest-rated one.
Wine ratings reflect other people’s opinions — critics, reviewers, or crowdsourced averages. And while these can sometimes be helpful, they rarely capture what matters most: your personal taste.
Before letting numbers decide what goes in your glass, it’s worth understanding why wine ratings aren’t always the best guide when choosing wine.
1. Wine Ratings Measure Averages — Not Your Taste
Most wine ratings are aggregated opinions.
Critics score wines. Consumers leave reviews. Platforms average those scores into a single number.
But averages reflect what many people like, not what you like.
Some people prefer bold, oaky reds. Others enjoy light, bright wines with higher acidity. A wine that scores 95 points may appeal strongly to a certain style preference — but that style may not suit your palate.
When choosing wine, remember: ratings describe the crowd, not the individual.
2. Expectations Can Change How Wine Tastes
Psychological studies on wine tasting consistently show something fascinating: expectation affects perception.
When people believe they are drinking an expensive or highly rated wine, they often report that it tastes better — even when the wine is identical to a cheaper bottle.
In blind tastings, where labels and scores are hidden, these differences often disappear.
In other words, wine ratings sometimes influence what you think you taste.
3. Wine Reviews Reflect Individual Biases
Every wine critic or reviewer has their own preferences.
Some favour:
- bold, concentrated wines
- high alcohol levels
- strong oak influence
- powerful tannins
Others prefer:
- delicate, elegant wines
- lighter body and subtle aromas
- fresh acidity and minerality
Neither approach is wrong. But a high wine score may simply mean the wine matches that reviewer’s style preference.
It doesn’t necessarily mean it matches yours.
4. Popular Wines Get More Ratings
On most wine apps and review sites, visibility influences popularity.
Wines that already have strong ratings tend to appear more frequently in recommendations and search results. As more people try them, more reviews accumulate, which further strengthens their ranking.
This creates a popularity loop:
- popular wines get seen more
- more people review them
- higher visibility leads to more popularity
Meanwhile, many excellent wines remain relatively unknown — not because they’re worse, but because they simply haven’t entered the rating cycle.
5. Context Changes How Wine Is Experienced
Wine doesn’t exist in isolation.
The same bottle can taste completely different depending on:
- the food you pair it with
- the temperature it’s served at
- the people you’re sharing it with
- the setting or environment
- your mood that day
A critic tasting dozens of wines in a professional setting may evaluate them very differently than someone enjoying a bottle over dinner.
That context — which often shapes the experience — rarely appears in a numerical score.
6. Quality Isn’t the Same as Personal Enjoyment
A wine can be technically excellent and still not be your favourite.
Ratings often reward qualities like:
- structure
- balance
- complexity
- ageing potential
But personal taste is more subjective.
You might simply prefer wines that are:
- lighter and more refreshing
- fruitier and easier to drink
- lower in tannins
- less intense
And that’s perfectly valid.
Because the best wine isn’t necessarily the one with the highest score.
It’s the one you want another glass of.
Trust Your Own Palate When Choosing Wine
Wine should invite curiosity — not intimidation.
Instead of relying solely on wine ratings and online reviews, try exploring based on your own preferences.
Taste widely. Try unfamiliar regions. Pay attention to what you enjoy rather than what the numbers suggest you should enjoy.
Over time, you’ll develop something far more valuable than a list of scores: your own palate.
And once you trust that, choosing wine becomes far more rewarding.
Drink Thoughtfully
At Locohol, we believe enjoying alcohol should always come with awareness.
Explore new wines. Follow your taste. And when a great night runs a little longer than planned, remember to look after tomorrow too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wine Ratings
Are wine ratings reliable when choosing a wine?
Wine ratings can be useful as a general guide, but they are not always reliable indicators of what you personally will enjoy. Most ratings reflect the preferences of critics or aggregated crowd reviews, which may differ from your own taste.
Why do wine ratings vary between critics?
Different wine critics have different preferences and tasting styles. Some favour bold, full-bodied wines, while others prefer lighter or more elegant styles. Because of this, the same wine can receive very different scores from different reviewers.
Should beginners rely on wine scores?
Wine scores can help beginners identify reputable producers or popular bottles, but relying only on ratings can limit discovery. Exploring different styles and regions is often a better way to develop your own palate.
How can I choose wine without relying on ratings?
The best way to choose wine is by learning what flavours and styles you enjoy. Try wines from different regions, attend tasting sessions, and take note of what you like. Over time, your own preferences will become a better guide than any score.
Do higher-rated wines always taste better?
Not necessarily. A higher-rated wine may be technically excellent, but that doesn’t mean it will match your personal taste. The best wine is often simply the one you enjoy drinking the most.